Vice-president speaks to reporters after joint session to certify results exactly four years after Trump’s supporters stormed Capitol
In brief remarks to reporters in the Capitol, Kamala Harris said she was simply doing her constitutional duty in presiding this afternoon over the certification of her presidential election defeat by Donald Trump.
“Today, I did what I have done my entire career, which is take seriously the oath that I have taken many times to support and defend the constitution of the United States, which included today performing my constitutional duties to ensure that the people of America, the voters of America, will have their votes counted, that those votes matter and that they will determine them the outcome of an election,” the vice-president said.
“I do believe very strongly that America’s democracy is only as strong as our willingness to fight for every single person, their willingness to fight for and respect the importance of our democracy. Otherwise, it is very fragile, and it will not be able to withstand moments of crisis. And today, America’s democracy stood.”
Donald Trump has not yet reacted publicly to Congress’s certification of his election win, instead musing on Truth Social about Canada becoming part of the United States.
He wrote:
Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned. If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!
The president-elect has similarly pondered buying Greenland and taking back control of the Panama Canal. The former was floated during his first administration, and went nowhere.
Donald Trump has said that pardoning January 6 defendants will be his first priority upon taking office, but signaled that he may pass over people accused or convicted of the most violent crimes.
Commenting to reporters at the Capitol, CNN reports that Republican senator Lindsey Graham echoed that sentiment, saying rioters who attacked police officers should not be forgiven:
I’m going to leave that to him – that’s his power to exercise – but the people who beat up police officers, I’d put them in a different category than others.
In brief remarks to reporters in the Capitol, Kamala Harris said she was simply doing her constitutional duty in presiding this afternoon over the certification of her presidential election defeat by Donald Trump.
“Today, I did what I have done my entire career, which is take seriously the oath that I have taken many times to support and defend the constitution of the United States, which included today performing my constitutional duties to ensure that the people of America, the voters of America, will have their votes counted, that those votes matter and that they will determine them the outcome of an election,” the vice-president said.
“I do believe very strongly that America’s democracy is only as strong as our willingness to fight for every single person, their willingness to fight for and respect the importance of our democracy. Otherwise, it is very fragile, and it will not be able to withstand moments of crisis. And today, America’s democracy stood.”
Per CSPAN, today’s electoral vote certification was, in terms of length, typical of those in the recent past.
In 2017, the joint session lasted 41 minutes, while in 2013 it took 22 minutes and in 2009 it went on for 36 minutes.
The sole exception was 2021, when it lasted for 14 hours and 48 minutes because Donald Trump’s supporters attacked the Capitol.
Earlier in the day, Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Senate minority leader, criticized Donald Trump for considering pardons of people convicted or facing charges over the January 6 attack.
“It is shamefully, utterly outrageous, that the president-elect is considering pardons for these rioters who broke the law and attacked our police officers on January 6,” Schumer said in a speech on the Senate floor.
“Pardoning the criminals who assaulted police officers and tried to halt the democratic process would be a dangerous endorsement of political violence. It would send a message to the country and to the world that those who use force to get their way will not be punished. It is wrong. It is reckless. And it would be an insult to the memories of those who died in connection to that day.”
Trump has said that pardons for those involved in the attack could come on his first day back in office, though he may allow some prosecutions to continue. Here’s more about his plans:
It took just over a half hour for Kamala Harris, performing her ceremonial duty as president of the Senate, to certify Donald Trump’s victory in the electoral college.
The certification was over quickly because no Democrats rose to object to the results from any state – a change from four years ago when, in addition to Trump’s supporters attacking the Capitol, dozens of Republican lawmakers formally disputed the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in key swing states.
Democrats have in the past objected to the certification of electoral votes, including when Trump was first elected eight years ago. But the party unanimously held off this year, and lawmakers who spoke up about their reasons often cited the need to ensure a peaceful transfer of power after the violence in 2021.
Here’s a statement from Democratic congressman Jared Moskowitz, who expresses a typical sentiment:
Democracy means respecting the results, even when you lose. January 6, 2021, was one of the darkest days in modern American history, because many people allowed partisanship to eclipse their commitment to democracy. I took an oath just three days ago to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, and I intend to uphold it. Today, I will be voting to certify President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, and I urge every Member of Congress to do the same.
Harris also announced the results of the ceremonial election for vice-president.
“The whole number of electors appointed to vote for vice-president of the United States is 538. Within that whole number, a majority is 270. The votes for vice-president of the United States are as follows: JD Vance of the state of Ohio has received 312 votes,” she said, to cheers from the GOP.
“Tim Walz of the state of Minnesota has received 226 votes,” she then said.
The vice-president then made formal the results of the electoral count.
“This announcement of the state of the vote by the president of the Senate shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the persons elected president and vice-president of the United States, each for a term beginning on the 20th day of January, 2025 and shall be entered together with the list of the votes on the journals of the House and the Senate,” Harris said.
She then gaveled the joint session to a close, and appears to have departed the Senate chamber.
Vance is meanwhile on the floor, speaking with lawmakers.
Kamala Harris has just announced Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election, following Congress’s certification of the result.
“The state of the vote for the president of the United States as delivered to the president of the Senate is as follows: the whole number of the electors appointed to vote for president of the United States is 538. Within that whole number, the majority is 270. The votes for president of the United States are as follows: Donald J Trump of the state of Florida has received 312 votes,” Harris said.
Loud applause broke out from Republicans. Harris watched for a while, then gaveled for quiet.
“Kamala D Harris of the State of California has received 226 votes,” she then said, prompting cheers from Democrats.
The electoral votes from the final state, Wyoming, which has a mere three, were just read.
Kamala Harris then asked the tellers to report the results of the election, and is now announcing Donald Trump’s election victory.
We’re getting close to the end.
“Madam President, the certificate of the electoral vote of the state of Vermont seems to be regular in form and authentic, and it appears there from the Kamala D Harris of the state of California received three votes for president, and Tim Walz of the state of Minnesota received three votes for vice-president,” Republican congressman Bryan Steil just announced.
In total, Donald Trump won 312 electoral votes, and Harris 226.
Kamala Harris is standing up and handing slates of electoral votes to the tellers from the dais, where Republican House speaker Mike Johnson is sitting next to her.
Applause typically follows after the votes are read, with the occasional whoops and cheers from the lawmakers.
