Congress's move Monday to certify Donald Trump's presidential victory marked the return of a mundane ceremony. This ceremony will be remembered primarily for its absence. The insurrection four years ago was when a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol in a failed effort to overturn Trump's defeat. .
These events on January 6, 2021, were largely fueled by Trump's lies about a “stolen” election, but they have since escalated into tensions between Trump's allies and critics of both parties. It became a flashpoint, sparking countless clashes over the nature of the riot. Mr. Trump's actions regarding this and his suitability for returning to power.
This time there was no room for debate over the election results. Democrats were outraged by Trump's victory, but no one within the party disputed it. Nevertheless, the four-year-old violence remained a powerful feature of Monday's joint session at the Capitol, which was surrounded by a huge steel security fence, law enforcement officers on duty and reporters at every turn. Crowds flocked to cover the scene from different angles. This process will focus public attention squarely on the sober constitutional rituals that until 2021 had been largely ignored outside the BRI.
Democrats emphasized that they would not confront or challenge the state's results. Even though I've been doing this for years. The strategy, encouraged by party leaders in the weeks leading up to January 6, aims to send a simple message: “We are different from them.”
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a former constitutional law professor who led the effort to impeach Trump for the second time after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, said, “We don't have election deniers on our side. It was a peaceful day.” he said on Monday. “Constitutional virtue is its own reward, and we are standing up for it today.”
If observers needed another reminder of the contrasting approaches to election certification in the Trump era, the process was overseen by two people who played outsized roles in the Trump story. Vice President Harris, who lost the election to Trump in November and conceded the election, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), close allies of Trump, filed a legal challenge four years ago to challenge President Biden's victory. Created a basis.
The certification process then dragged into the early hours of January 7, delayed by riots and Republican challenges to Trump's defeat in two battleground states. On Monday, the entire ceremony lasted 30 minutes.
Many Republicans are trying to reframe history by arguing that the storming of the Capitol was simply a protest that got out of hand. And on January 6 of this year, they celebrated President Trump, weeks before he was sworn in at the Capitol on January 20. Trump allies such as Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) wore MAGA hats. National Diet Building.
Johnson then took a victory lap, characterizing Trump's victory as “the greatest political reversal in American history.”
“His landslide election and corresponding mandate from the American people requires Congress to waste no time in delivering on America First policies, and we are ready to do everything in our power to do so,” Johnson said. It's done,” he said.
Mr. Harris has been businesslike during his time as chair. She did not applaud or change her expression once as the four senators, known as tellers, read out the election results. Once she gave in, she stood up, holding her hands and facing forward.
Mr. Johnson, who was sitting next to her, clapped as a teller read out that Mr. Trump had won certain states, and Vice President-elect J.D., who was sitting with his Senate colleagues during the certification review.・Mr. Vance also applauded. Democrats applauded when Harris was declared the winner, but that was the only noise from that side of the aisle.
There was little fanfare throughout the event.
To conclude the certification, Harris announced that Trump had won 312 of the 538 electoral votes, and Republican senators, including her neighbor Johnson, stood to applaud and cheer.
“Kamala D. Harris of California received 226 votes,” she said, pausing as Democrats stood to applaud her. She smiled quietly and tapped the gavel.
In brief remarks afterwards, Harris said certification without fanfare “should be the norm.”
“Today, I did what I have done throughout my career: take seriously the oath I have taken many times to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. “This includes fulfilling our constitutional duty to protect the safety of our people.'' United States, American voters will have their votes counted,'' Harris said, adding that American democracy must be fought for. However, he added that it could be “very vulnerable”.
“Today, American democracy stood up,” she said.
Four years ago, as President Trump made false claims of a “stolen” election, a mob of Biden supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6 to protest the certification of Biden as the winner. More than 140 law enforcement officers were injured, and three died in the days and weeks that followed, two of them by suicide. One of the rioters was shot and killed by a Capitol Police officer as he tried to enter the Speaker's Lobby, which is adjacent to the House chamber.
Later that night, a majority of House Republicans— 139 members — voted to overturn Trump's loss in Arizona, Pennsylvania, or both.
Former Vice President Pence cemented his role in history that day by resisting pressure from Mr Trump to overturn Mr Biden's victory. As a result, rioters stormed the Capitol, chanting “hang Mike Pence” and attacking President Trump's second-in-command.
Pence on Monday praised Harris for presiding over the election she lost, calling the peaceful transfer of power “the hallmark of our democracy and our day.”
President Trump's First Vice President said in X Vice President Harris deserves particular praise for presiding over the certification of the presidential election she lost. ”
Until four years ago, the vice president's role in presiding over Congress's electoral tally, the final step in the electoral process before a president ascends to the White House, was largely uncontroversial.
Some Democrats on Monday emphasized the day's normalcy compared to 2021, while criticizing Republicans and Trump.
“I'm at the Capitol right now certifying the electoral votes. It's quiet,” said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut). said in X. “Don't take it for granted. Don't think that our democracy is healthy. No, because I believe that one political party will still use violence to gain power, I Our democracy is in grave danger.”
Democratic Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., said her party would vote to certify the results because “we are not election deniers, we are believers in democracy.” Ta.
she added to X“Because we always respect the will of the people and never bow to the orders of one man.”
Emily Brooks contributed reporting.
