What to watch for ahead of US presidential inauguration on Jan 20
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Donald Trump and Vice-President-elect JD Vance will take their respective oaths of office during a swearing-in ceremony.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON - US President-elect Donald Trump will take office on Jan 20 after defeating Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Here is a timeline of events between now and Inauguration Day:
Dec 17: Electors, who together form the Electoral College, meet in their respective states and the District of Columbia to select the president and vice-president.
Dec 25: The electoral votes must be received by this date by the president of the Senate – a role held by the vice-president, currently Ms Harris – and the archivist.
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Jan 6: Ms Harris presides over the Electoral College vote count at a joint session of Congress, announces the results and declares who has been elected. Ahead of the count on Jan 6, 2021, then President Trump lambasted his vice-president, Mr Mike Pence, for refusing to try to prevent Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s victory.
On that day, Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in an effort to stop the count. Mr Biden’s win was certified early the next day.
Congress has since passed reforms that require approval of one-fifth of the House and Senate to consider a challenge to a state’s results – a much higher bar than existed before, when at least one member each in the Senate and the House of Representatives could together trigger a challenge.
Jan 20: Trump and Vice-President-elect J.D. Vance will take their respective oaths of office during a swearing-in ceremony that is due to begin at 12pm ET (1am Singapore time on Jan 21). REUTERS
