Washington DC, January 7: Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election was officially certified on Monday after the counting of Electoral College votes. The joint session of Congress, presided over by Vice President Kamala Harris, declared Trump the winner.
Although Trump’s win was confirmed on 6 November, the official announcement was made after the Congressional session at Capitol Hill. Both chambers of Congress – the House of Representatives and the Senate – counted the votes in a session overseen by the Vice President in her capacity as the President of the Senate.
Trump, reacting to the certification, wrote on social media:
“Congress has officially certified our election victory today. This is a historic moment.”
In the election held on 5 November, Trump secured 312 Electoral College votes, surpassing the 270 needed to win. His opponent, Kamala Harris, garnered 226 votes.
Trump will take the oath of office on January 20. Ahead of the inauguration, Capitol Hill was heavily secured with fencing and robust security arrangements. The event marks the culmination of a historic election and the beginning of Trump’s term as the next US president.
