Vice President Kamala Harris shakes hands with House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., after a joint session of Congress confirmed the Electoral College votes, affirming President-elect Donald Trump's victory in the presidential election, Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress has certified Donald Trump as the 2024 presidential election winner without challenge. It’s in stark contrast to 2021 violence. Lawmakers convened under heavy security and a snowstorm to certify the vote Monday, with the reading of the electoral results from the states coming swiftly. The legacy of Jan. 6, 2021, hung over Monday’s proceedings as the Republican who tried to overturn the previous election is legitimately returning to power. As lawmakers gathered, the tightest national security was in place. It’s a reminder of what happened at the U.S. Capitol four years ago, when a defeated Trump sent a mob to “fight like hell.”

Lawmakers convened under heavy security and a snowstorm to meet the date required by law to certify the election. The whole process happened swiftly and without unrest. But the legacy of Jan. 6, 2021, leaves an extraordinary fact: The candidate who tried to overturn the previous election won this time and is legitimately returning to power.

Vice President Kamala Harris, presiding over proceedings as the role of her office, read the tally, including of her own defeat.

The chamber broke into applause, first Republicans for Trump’s 312 electoral votes, then Democrats for Harris’ 226.

Within half an hour the process was done.