Key Points
Historic congressional certification following 2021 Capitol riots
Kamala Harris presiding over her own electoral defeat
Peaceful transition of power after previous tensions
Trump returning to presidential role
Vice President Kamala Harris will preside over the process on a snowy day that amounted essentially to certifying her own defeat to Trump as the Democratic Party nominee.
This day four years ago, Trump's supporters marched on to the US Capitol, home to both chambers of the Congress, as lawmakers gathered to certify Joe Biden's election as President, comfortably beating the then-sitting President. They wanted to stop that process.
Rioters had a run of the place as lawmakers took shelter wherever they could. Five people died in the immediate aftermath - one of them was shot by police and another died of other causes.
President-elect Trump had then disregarded other small and major practices that have become a part of the transition. He did not invite Biden to the White House as outgoing Presidents do -- as had President Barack Obama, his predecessor, and President Biden as his predecessor for the second term.
He had also left town for Mar-a-Lago in Florida without attending Biden's inauguration ceremony.
Trump never publicly acknowledged his defeat.
Trump made no mention of the event to unfold shortly in US Congress in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform, "Biden is doing everything possible to make the TRANSITION as difficult as as possible, from Lawfare such as has never been seen before, to costly and ridiculous Executive Orders on the Green New Scam and other money wasting Hoaxes. Fear not, these "Orders" will all be terminated shortly, and we will become a Nation of Common Sense and Strength. MAGA!!!"
President-elect Trump will be administered the oath of office on January 20 and President Biden has said he intends to attend the ceremony.
