WASHINGTON – On Monday, President-elect Donald Trump was officially declared the winner of a second term when the Electoral College votes were announced and confirmed during a joint session of Congress managed by his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.

During the approximately 30-minute session, no lawmakers raised objections, culminating when the tellers announced Texas’s results, securing Trump the 270 electoral votes needed to become the United States’ next president.

Members of both the House and Senate clapped courteously as the winning candidates from each party were acknowledged, which stood in stark contrast to four years prior when a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, delaying the certification ceremony for President Joe Biden’s election victory.

House Speaker Mike Johnson referred to the event as “the greatest political comeback in American history” in a post on X. He emphasized that Trump’s significant electoral win mandates Congress to promptly pursue the America First agenda and they are ready to get started.

Vice President Harris, who lost to Trump in the 2024 election, presided over the session as Senate president, making her the first presidential candidate to oversee the certification of her rival’s victory since former Vice President Al Gore in 2000.

“Today, I fulfilled my long-standing commitment to honor the Constitution,” Harris stated post-event. “This includes ensuring every American’s vote is counted and matters in determining the election’s outcome.”

“This is part of my constitutional role to guarantee that the voices of the American voters are acknowledged,” she added.

In contrast to 2021, Monday’s event proceeded smoothly with only a few protesters outside on the National Mall, covered in snow from a recent storm that impacted large areas of the country. No one attempted to breach the extensive police barriers surrounding the Capitol, and there were no objections from lawmakers regarding the key swing state certificate results.

This orderly occasion sharply contrasted with the chaos of four years ago when a violent mob of Trump’s supporters invaded the Capitol, causing damage and disrupting the certification of Biden’s 2020 election victory.

The atmosphere inside reflected the political divides that have persisted into 2025. Republicans were animated and enthusiastic, often rising to cheer as Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance’s names were announced. Vance, who is an Ohio GOP senator, plans to resign from his position by Inauguration Day on January 20.

“The American populace has turned away from socialism and rejected wokeism, choosing President Trump to guide them. We are thrilled to certify the results today,” stated Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla.

In contrast, Democrats appeared subdued, pointing out that no members of their party disputed the election results and indicated this should serve as a model for how to accept defeat gracefully.

“It’s overwhelming to take in,” expressed Sen. Andy Kim, a Democrat from New Jersey who gained attention four years ago for his reactions during the Capitol riot.

During his time as a member of the House, Kim helped remove debris left by rioters. Reflecting on his experience in the cleaned halls, he expressed, “I don’t have a word to truly describe how I’m feeling right now.”

Later that same day, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stood on the first floor of the Capitol at the location where the rioters initially entered the building.

“Many people wish for us to forget, to bury this under the rug, to rewrite the narrative,” Schumer noted, recalling how he was urgently led away from the Senate chamber, passing just a few feet away from the rioters. “We will always remember.”

“We also hope to set an example for our Republican colleagues. We do not deny the election,” he added. “We accepted the loss and regret it. However, we firmly believe in the strength of our democracy.”