06 January 2025

THIS MUCH IS TRUE

 Inside Congress' "surreal" day certifying Trump's victory
Members of Congress sitting in brown leather chairs in the House chamber.

Members of Congress in the House chamber for the 2024 election certification on Jan. 6, 2025. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images.

For members of Congress who trudged through a snowstorm to certify President-elect Trump's victory in the Electoral College, Jan. 6, 2025 was almost bizarre in its uneventfulness.

Why it matters: Just four years ago today, former Vice President Pence had to be rushed to a secure location when the Jan. 6 Capitol riot interrupted the Electoral College certification for President-elect Biden.

That was in stark contrast with Monday's joint session, in which tellers ran swiftly through each elector slate.

  • Vice President Harris — who presided over the meeting — "certified her own defeat, and the victory of her opponent who said nasty things about her," Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) told Axios.
  • Harris having to certify Trump's victory after he "nearly stole our democracy four years ago was "the part that is most painful to me," said Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.).
  • Lawmakers applauded when electors were announced for their respective candidates, but when Harris announced Trump's victory, both sides gave a standing ovation.

Driving the news: Unlike in 2021, when Congress reconvened following the riot and certified President Biden's victory after midnight, the joint session on Monday concluded after just a half hour.

Go here to go deeper > Axios

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