After winning the 2024 presidential election against Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, President-elect Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2025.
Here is a timeline of events leading up to Inauguration Day.
Post-Election Certification
Following the election, results are certified state by state to ensure the accuracy of vote counts, confirm electors from each state, and formally designate Trump as the winner.
Each state must submit to the archivist of the United States certified slates of presidential electors by Dec. 11, as part of a federal law enacted in 2022 to address candidates seeking to challenge certificates.
Electoral College Vote
On Dec. 17, electors, who together form the Electoral College, convene in their respective states to cast their votes for president and vice president.
These votes are based on the certified results from each state. The outcome confirms Trump’s victory.
Congressional Certification
By Dec. 25, the Senate must have received all electoral votes. Then a joint session of Congress, presided over by the current vice president, will meet to officially count and certify the Electoral College votes.
On Jan. 6, Kamala Harris, as the outgoing vice president, presides over the Electoral College vote count at the joint session of Congress, announces the results, and declares the elected president and vice president.
This step finalizes the election results and formally declares Donald Trump as the next president and JD Vance as the next vice president of the United States.
Transition Period
During this period, Trump and his team will work with the outgoing administration to ensure a smooth transition, focusing on appointing key officials, reviewing intelligence and security updates, and planning policy and legislative priorities for the new term.
Inauguration Day
On Jan. 20, the inauguration ceremony takes place in Washington.
The day begins with the outgoing president and president-elect attending a joint religious service, symbolizing unity. The president-elect then meets with his family and key staff before proceeding to the U.S. Capitol.
The vice president-elect takes the oath of office first, followed by the president-elect at noon, sworn in by the chief justice of the Supreme Court as the 47th President of the United States.
By the afternoon, Trump will deliver his inaugural address, outlining his vision, goals, and message to the nation.
Reuters contributed to this report.