The United States Congress announced the certification of the Electoral College votes, confirming that Joseph R. Biden will be the next president of the United States. The announcement came after protesters stormed the Capitol building in the middle of the session. Struggles with police left four dead, including a young Air Force veteran, and led to 52 arrests. After three hours, the police managed to clear the building.
“To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today - you did not win,” said Vice President Mike Pence after resuming the joint session. “Let’s get back to work.”
Trump himself pleaded with his supporters to “remain peaceful” and “go home peacefully” in a video that was quickly censored by social media networks. He also acknowledged the “hurt” and “pain” on the part of Conservatives, who have been protesting the presidential election following overwhelming evidence of election fraud, but said that violence is not the correct response. Instead, the mainstream media are reporting that Trump incited the mob. Some Democratic leaders, who defended violent riots by left-wing groups like Antifa and Black Lives Matter even as they laid siege to federal buildings, are now calling for Trump to be impeached, again.
In a recently released statement, Trump conceded the election to Biden, highlighting that he still disagrees with the outcome of the presidential elections and that his team is continuing to "fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted".
Joseph R. Biden Jr., 77, is set to be inaugurated on January 20th and will preside over the country with the support of both chambers of Congress, which are now controlled by the Democrats.