It's now official. Donald Trump is 47e president of the United States. The Republican candidate won the American presidential election on Tuesday, November 5, against his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris. But before returning to the White House for a second term, the president-elect will have to wait for several stages to take place, including the official certification of the results by state and the solemn vote of the electors.
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Until then, a transition period will open to allow the Biden administration to gradually hand over control to the new government team. Here are the key dates to remember before the official inauguration of Donald Trump, scheduled for January 20, 2025.
Until December 11, 2024: the results certification process
After the announcement of the results by the major media and the candidates themselves, a vote certification process begins in the country to allow local authorities to carry out possible recounts and resolve any disputes linked to the vote. Certification procedures and deadlines vary between each state (November 25 for Arizona and Michigan, November 1is December for Wisconsin…), but everyone must complete this process before the deadline of December 11, as required by the vote counting reform law passed in 2022.
The results are subsequently certified by local officials (governor, secretary of state), and the certificates of finding transmitted to the American national archives agency (National Archives and Records Administration) and to Congress. It is also during this process that the electors designated in each state are formalized.
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December 17, 2024: the vote of the electors
On this date, the 538 electors meet as an electoral college in their respective state capitals. This is when they officially vote for president and vice president. These votes are then sent to the President of the Senate, no later than the fourth Wednesday of December, i.e. December 25. Voting certificates are also kept in the archives.
January 6, 2025: Congress endorses the results
Three days after being sworn in, the renewed Congress meets in joint session to count the votes, certify the results, and endorse the name of the president and vice president. The President of the Senate traditionally formalizes the results. Ironically, it is the losing candidate, Kamala Harris, who holds this title automatically as vice-president of the United States.
It was during this session, on January 6, 2021, that supporters of Donald Trump stormed the Capitol to prevent the vice-president, Mike Pence, from proclaiming Joe Biden's victory. After this interruption, the session of Congress resumed during the night to formalize the name of the new tenant of the White House.
January 20, 2025: the official inauguration of Donald Trump
The new president will be inaugurated during “Inauguration Day” on January 20, 2025, in front of the Capitol in Washington. This date officially marks the start of Donald Trump's second presidency, and the end of Joe Biden's.
The investiture ceremony is punctuated by several key moments. Artists generally take turns during this event. In 2021, singer Lady Gaga sang the American national anthem for Joe Biden, while Jennifer Lopez covered Woody Guthrie's famous folk song This Land is your Land. In 2017, for Trump's first term, the anthem was sung by a former participant of the reality TV show “America's Got Talent”. Most of the stars requested refused to be present.
But the most important event of the day usually takes place at noon, when Donald Trump will be sworn in. Tradition dictates that the new leader places his left hand on the Bible (this is not obligatory) and swears before the Chief Justice of the United States to protect the Constitution by raising his right hand:
« I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me god. »
“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and that to the best of my ability I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. God help me. »
Vice President JD Vance will also be sworn in. Finally, Donald Trump will deliver a speech closing the ceremony. The end of the day is traditionally punctuated by a parade, the signing of documents formalizing the new presidential cabinet and then an inaugural ball.
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