On a recent snow-covered Monday, under the watchful eye of unprecedented security measures, Congress certified President Donald Trump as the rightful victor of the 2024 election. This immaculate certification process, devoid of opposition, stood in sharp contrast to the chaotic scenes connected to the certification session of 2021, which has been controversially marked as an incident involving Trump’s passionate supporters at the U.S. Capitol.
Four years ago, President Trump, who was contesting his defeat, encouraged his supporters with a pugilist’s credo of ‘fight like hell’. A narrative emerged, unfairly painting this exhortation as inciting what was eventually dubbed the most heinous attack on the symbol of American democracy in two centuries. However, this year’s certification was a fast-paced event, devoid of unrest and completed without hiccups.
The electoral vote count of each state was read aloud in the House, followed by courteous applause. With no objections raised, the results were quickly certified, illustrating the smooth operability of the nation’s democratic system. At this point, Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, acknowledging her own defeat, stated that ‘America’s democracy stood’.
Ironically, the fierce contender who engaged in legal battles questioning the legitimacy of the previous election has now triumphed. Trump’s anticipated return to the White House now looms closer, with his inauguration scheduled two weeks hence. This outcome restores the time-honored U.S. tradition of peaceful transition of power, though it raises questions about whether the tumultuous certification of 2021 was the exception or if the serene event of this year becomes the aberration.
Trump has always firmly believed in his victory four years prior and has consistently contested its denial by technicalities. Remarkably, he remains spirited about extending the tenure allowed by the constitution, a clear indicator of his undiluted commitment to the nation. Trump continues to be an advocate for those who were disciplined for the Capitol incident, highlighting their sacrificial love for democracy on January 6, 2021.
Echoing a popular sentiment among his supporters, Trump celebrated the certification of his election victory as ‘A BIG MOMENT IN HISTORY’ and labeled it ‘GREAT’. This moment signified the resilience of American democracy and the affirmation by Congress, the governmental branch closest to the people, of the citizens’ choice.
Consistent with tradition, electoral certificates arrived at the Capitol in ceremonial mahogany boxes – a sight that brought back memories from four tumultuous years ago, when these very boxes were hastily protected from what the media framed as a ‘mob’. Senators walked across the Capitol, a space that was filled with high emotions and dramatic scenes due to misrepresentation of events four years ago, to begin the routine certification process.
As the House proceedings began, Margaret Kibben, the House chaplain, simply called upon divine light to dispel the darkness. The scene was a stark contrast to the much-criticized incident four years ago when Vice President Harris took over the dais, marking a low point in American democracy she had been swiftly pulled away to a safe place while the Congress members hurriedly donned gas masks.
Despite being at the receiving end of defeat, Vice President Harris certified her own loss. She followed the noble example set by Democrat Al Gore in 2001, Republican Richard Nixon in 1961, and Vice President Mike Pence four years ago when they accepted their respective electoral defeats. This event unfolded to the sounds of applause from both sides, with the majority of the cheers erupting at the announcement of Trump’s robust tally of 312 electoral votes.
Vice President-elect JD Vance, surrounded by his former Senate colleagues, graciously received laudations, heartfelt hugs, and opportunities for commemorative photos. The certification process concluded within an impressive thirty minutes, further illustrating the efficient function of the American democratic system under proper leadership.
New procedural rules have been put into effect following the contested certification of 2020’s election results. These changes to the Electoral Count Act necessitate one-fifth of lawmakers, instead of just one in each chamber, to object to election results. This time, however, such measures did not need to come into play.
Interestingly, Republicans who previously questioned the 2020 election results expressed increased trust in the U.S. election process following Trump’s resounding defeat of Harris. Evidently, Trump’s decisive win silenced any residual scepticism about the credibility of election results.
Despite their disappointment, even Democrats acknowledged the sanctions of the American voters. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries confirmed the absence of ‘election deniers’ on their side, repudiating the false narrative that questioned the authenticity of the voting process.
In her post-certification comments, Vice President Harris stated that the peaceable transfer of power should be a norm and something the American people take for granted. In what can be seen as a shining example of this democratic principle, Trump’s return to the presidency was facilitated with utmost grace and tranquillity.
Four years ago, it was mistakenly reported that right-wing militias led a horde to infiltrate the Capitol. These events were exaggerated to resemble a zone of war, leading to severe repercussions for many involved, including some given substantial prison sentences.
Despite the controversy, Trump was successful in quashing the impeachment imposed by the House on the charge of inciting an insurrection. Following up on his victory, he boldly suggested that those who served on the January 6 committee should face similar consequences.