It’s Official: Kamala Harris Presides Over Congress as Trump’s 2024 Victory is Certified
In a ceremonial joint session, Vice President Kamala Harris officially announced Donald Trump's 2024 presidential victory, maintaining composure amid Republican cheers and a tightly controlled atmosphere.
By Marian Mitchell // Political Correspondent // EEW Magazine Online
Vice President Kamala Harris stands with House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., as a joint session of Congress convenes to confirm the Electoral College votes, affirming President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
(EEW Newswire) In a subdued and procedural joint session of Congress on Friday, lawmakers officially certified Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 presidential election.
Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the ceremony, fulfilling her constitutional role in announcing the results of the Electoral College vote.
Harris, with a composed demeanor and minimal rhetorical flair, announced the final tally: President-elect Donald Trump received 312 electoral votes, while Harris herself, representing the Democratic ticket, secured 226 votes. Each announcement drew raucous cheers from the chamber, but it was the proclamation of Trump’s victory that prompted a standing ovation from Republican members.
Trump and Harris went head-to-head in first and only 2024 presidential debate. (Getty)
Throughout the ceremony, Harris maintained a professional yet stoic presence. She methodically passed copies of each state’s certified results to lawmakers, who read them aloud one by one. The process, completed without interruption or significant dispute, lasted less than 30 minutes.
“The chair declares this joint session dissolved. Thank you,” Harris concluded before stepping away from the dais. She briefly shook hands and exchanged cheek kisses with a few members before being escorted out.
The certification coincided with the swearing-in of the 119th Congress, where Republicans now control both chambers. Mike Johnson was reelected as Speaker of the House, signaling a readiness among lawmakers to advance Trump’s policy agenda and begin confirmation hearings for his Cabinet nominees.
Despite the historical weight of the moment, the atmosphere in the chamber was marked by an air of detachment. Some members diverted their attention to their phones or engaged in side conversations as the proceedings unfolded.
With the formalities completed and the election results cemented, Washington now pivots to the next chapter: the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump and the early days of a new administration.
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