From White House visit to Inauguration Day: The steps to the Donald Trump presidency

Donald Trump is set to make a remarkable return to power following his victory in the US presidential election on Tuesday over Kamala Harris, though his inauguration is still over two months away.

The 78-year-old won after a heated campaign marked by two assassination attempts and Kamala Harris’s late entry, following US President Joe Biden’s surprise withdrawal from the race.

Before Trump formally takes office, several steps remain, including the congressional certification of election results - a process that Trump supporters previously sought to disrupt by storming the US Capitol nearly four years ago after his loss in the 2020 election.

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President-elect Trump will be inaugurated on January 20, as the Constitution’s 20th Amendment mandates. Following the swearing-in, the president-elect officially assumes the presidency and moves into the White House after the ceremony.

Here’s a look at the process American democracy follows between Election Day and the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2025:

A visit to the White House

The date remains unconfirmed. While the final vote tally is pending, Trump has secured the necessary Electoral College votes for the presidency, and Harris has conceded.

The present US President, Joe Biden, has already invited his successor to the White House. Trump’s team has stated that the visit “will take place shortly.”

After Trump’s victory over Harris, the White House released a statement stating that Biden has committed “to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasised the importance of working to unite the country.” The statement also mentioned that Biden has spoken with Harris.

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The meeting is likely to be awkward. Trump, in 2020, neither invited Biden to the White House nor conceded defeat.

After months of sharp jibes at each other, including Trump’s frequent criticism of Biden as “the worst president” in US history, the two will soon appear together before the cameras at the White House.

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The transition process

The transition process is underway. Staffing such a large administration is a gradual task, but preparations have begun.

Although the new administration will experience a complete revamp, Trump has a clear vision for what he wants to achieve. After building an administration in his first term, he now has concrete plans for what he would change this time around.

Team Trump has named Linda McMahon, his former small business administrator, and businessman Howard Lutnick as transition co-chairs, and they have said the president-elect will start announcing personnel “in the days and weeks ahead.”

Discussions are already ongoing around two potentially controversial appointments in the new administration.

Trump has suggested he may appoint tech entrepreneur Elon Musk as an advisor on government efficiency, and anti-vaccine Robert F Kennedy Jr to oversee health and food policy.

Key cabinet positions, including secretary of state, will require Senate confirmation, where Republicans hold a majority.

However, the transition is not just about filling jobs. During this period, presidents-elect typically start receiving intelligence briefings.

State certification

December 17.

This step has previously faced scrutiny by Trump and his supporters, particularly during the 2020 election.

Each of the 50 states, along with Washington, conducts a thorough review of ballot counting and aggregation to address any irregularities or controversies before the “safe harbour” deadline on December 11.

Technically, voters do not directly cast ballots for a presidential candidate but for electors, who represent the Electoral College. After the election, these electors meet to vote for president and vice president.

Once each state verifies a complete and accurate record of its election, the electors are required to meet - in this case, on December 17 - to cast their votes and certify the election results for their state.

Four years ago, Trump’s allies tried to cast doubt on this process, pressuring local officials to refuse certification. Ultimately, these efforts were unsuccessful.

Congressional certification

January 6.

At this point, the process shifts to Washington, where the ballots are formally delivered to the US Capitol. A joint session of Congress then counts the electoral votes.

As president of the Senate, the US vice president is responsible for certifying the final outcome of the election.

This may lead to another awkward moment, with Harris tasked with certifying the victory of the Republican who defeated her.

The last certification on January 6, 2021, was a dark day for the country, as thousands of rioters stormed the Capitol to stop the certification amid Trump’s repeated claims of election fraud.

Lawmakers were forced to take shelter, but the process was ultimately completed, with Trump’s Vice President Mike Pence certifying Biden’s 2020 victory.

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Inauguration

January 20.

According to the US Constitution, the president’s term begins that day at noon when they take the oath of office. When Trump raises his right hand, he will become the 47th president.

In 2021, Trump broke with modern tradition by not attending Biden’s inauguration. However, Biden is unlikely to do the same.

The inauguration ceremony is traditionally held outdoors, and since 1981, it has taken place on the west front of the US Capitol.

With inputs from AFP