WASHINGTON- On a day filled with political symbolism for both parties, Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday officially recognized President-elect Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 election, certifying the electoral college votes.
While the vote certification served as a culmination ceremony for the turbulent 2024 election, the day also marked a momentous anniversary of the violent mob that stormed the Capitol four years ago, when Trump supporters attempted to disrupt the count.
Those devastating events were not far from lawmakers' minds, as many released advance statements to commemorate the dark day. But the president-elect was set to strike a more jubilant tone on his Truth Social page earlier Monday, calling it “A GREAT MOMENT IN HISTORY.” “MAGA!”
While Trump was absent from the ceremony, his former opponent from California kept the proceedings civil and professional. Harris walked purposefully into the House chamber in a plum-colored suit and led senators into the joint session of Congress.
She stood stoically on the stand, folding her hands or passing around manila envelopes with electoral college vote certificates, as the buzzer of each state's official vote count was read, including those of the states that voted for her. Ironically, senators presented each recount to her with the honorific title of “Madam President,” as Harris was serving in her capacity as president of the Senate.
After just 30 minutes, Harris concluded the count: “Donald J. Trump of the state of Florida has received 312 votes,” she said, as the House erupted in applause. She smiled widely and, after a moment, banged her gavel to call the chamber to order. Then he announced his own results: “Kamala D. Harris from the state of California has received 226 votes.”
Once again, the chamber erupted in cheers as her Democratic colleagues gave Harris a standing ovation. Once again, the vice president smiled and, after a moment, banged his gavel to impose order.
Harris, who lost her bid for the presidency just two months ago, posted a video early Monday saying she would do her duty under the Constitution to preside over the certification. Harris joins a small club of vice presidents who lost their presidential bids and had to certify the results, including Al Gore and Richard Nixon.
“The peaceful transfer of power is one of the most fundamental principles of American democracy,” Harris said. “As we have seen, our democracy can be fragile. And it is up to each of us, then, to defend our most cherished principles and ensure that in the United States our government is always of the people, by the people and for the people.”
What was once a perfunctory duty of Congress — certifying every state's electoral college votes — became an international debacle in 2021, when people upset by Trump's 2020 reelection loss broke into the Capitol to disrupt the process.
“Thanks to the resilience of our institutions and the bravery of the United States Capitol Police officers who risked their lives, this assault on our democracy failed. However, attacks on the right to vote and the very foundations of our democracy persist,” California Democratic Senator Alex Padilla said in a statement.
The riot, which unfolded live on television, immediately drew bipartisan condemnation. House leaders convened a committee to investigate the January 6 rioters and law enforcement across the country cracked down, leading to hundreds of convictions. But competing political narratives quickly took hold.
By the time of the 2024 election, Trump had characterized January 6, 2021 as “a day of love” and promised to forgive many of the rioters. Family members and supporters of those arrested after Jan. 6 frequently attended Trump campaign events.
Democrats used the Jan. 6 attacks as evidence of a fragile democracy at risk of toppling under a second Trump administration. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris frequently portrayed Trump as a danger to democracy, though Republicans returned the insult, claiming Democrats stole the 2020 election. Democrats, who clearly lost in November, insisted Monday in a familiar phrase: we are not bad losers.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) sent a somber message in a statement Monday morning: “History will always remember the attempted insurrection and we will never allow violence to be whitewashed.” that unfolded in plain sight.”
Several deep layers of security surrounded the Capitol buildings Monday morning, but the campus was mostly quiet as a snowstorm blanketed Washington, D.C., in white. The police presence was intensified throughout the capital.
