US president-elect Donald Trump has had his victory certified by his defeated rival, Kamala Harris.
Amid tightened security, Ms Harris, who lost to Mr Trump following November’s election, presided over the certification of the 78-year-old Republican’s victory in Congress.
Ahead of senators and representatives gathering for the event, the outgoing vice president described her role in the certification as a “sacred obligation” to ensure the peaceful transfer of power, four years after Trump supporters sought to block the same process by storming Capitol Hill on 6 January 2021.
The violence on that day resulted in the death of five people.
Ms Harris joined a short list of other vice presidents to oversee the ceremonial confirmation of their election loss as part of their role of presiding over the Senate.
In a video message earlier today, Ms Harris, who became the Democratic frontrunner against Mr Trump following Mr Biden’s decision to withdraw from the presidential race in July, said: “As we have seen, our democracy can be fragile.
“And it is up to each of us to stand up for our most cherished principles.”
Mr Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social today saying: “Congress certifies our great election victory today – a big moment in history. MAGA!”
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Mr Trump has said he plans to pardon some of the more than 1,500 people charged with taking part in the 6 January 2021 assault on the Capitol.
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