Four years after mob violence, Kamala Harris hands power – peacefully – to Trump
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The outgoing vice-president presided over a January 6 without rancour as she formally certified the vote she lost. She had warned America that he is a fascist and now, in front of political colleagues, TV viewers and the watching world, she was the one who would have to officially put him back in power.
![[Man grins and put hand on chest]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3cc48c51d339707fb640861d311740403564d6f3/0_118_4389_2634/master/4389.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Few would envy Kamala Harris, the outgoing US vice-president, having to maintain a cool, zen-like exterior on Monday as she formally announced Donald Trump’s victory – and her own defeat – in the 2024 presidential election. “The votes for president of the United States are as follows: Donald J Trump of the state of Florida has received 312 votes,” said Harris, wearing a maroon suit and silky bow shirt. Even then there was to be one more insult as Republicans in the House of Representative interrupted her with loud applause and cheering.
The vice-president stood ramrod-backed, hands folded, wearing a half-smile, half-grimace as the acclaim went on, eventually reaching for the gavel to restore order. “Kamala D Harris of the state of California has received 226 votes,” she then said, prompting counter-cheers from Democrats.
Harris said the results were a “sufficient declaration” of the election of a president and vice-president starting their terms on 20 January. Senator JD Vance, the vice-president-elect, wearing Trumpian white shirt and red tie, fist-bumped Senator Bill Cassidy; Harris shook hands with the speaker, Mike Johnson, who patted her on the back; and the entire chamber – Democrats and Republicans – stood and applauded.
