At 1 p.m. EST, both chambers of Congress convened and certified the 2024 presidential election results, officially making Donald Trump the incoming 47th President of the United States.

Key Details: Vice President Kamala Harris, who Trump defeated in the presidential election, presided over the certification of the Electoral College results.

Key Quote: The 12th Amendment to the Constitution says, "The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted."

For Context: Trump will be inaugurated and begin his term on January 20. Since the Capitol riot four years ago, the certification of the presidential election has become a national security event, and a 10-foot-high fencing has been erected around the outer perimeter of the Capitol complex.

How the Media Covered it: The Washington Times (Lean Right bias) noted that the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022 now requires 20% of lawmakers from each chamber to advance a challenge to the certification of state results, rather than just one senator or representative calling for a debate. The New York Times (Lean Left bias) focused on the Capitol Riot four years ago that was "inflamed by [Trump's] lie about a stolen election." The headline from AP (Left bias) read, "Congress is ready to certify Trump’s election win, but his Jan. 6 legacy hangs over the day."