Trump Declared Election Winner in Ceremony Four Years After Riot

Opponent Kamala Harris presides over vote-counting session
Tranquil atmosphere at Capitol, where rioters attacked in 2021

Kamala Harris shakes hands with Mike Johnson after certifying the results of the 2024 Presidential election at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on Jan. 6.Photographer: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

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By Billy House, Alicia Diaz, and Steven T. Dennis

January 6, 2025 at 6:55 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Congress certified Donald Trump’s presidential election victory Monday without dispute and with his defeated Democratic opponent Kamala Harris presiding, resuming a ritual of democracy four years after a mob attack on the US Capitol marred the vote count with violence.

The legacy of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection marked the day with extra fortifications erected around the Capitol including tall security fencing and gated entries, bomb squads roaming the building, snipers positioned throughout the complex and local police from as far away as New York City reinforcing security.