After a surreal, disturbing and unprecedented night, with the storming of Congress — the heart of the United States democratic system — by protesters, members of parliament were able to resume their work. The House of Representatives and the Senate officially certified Joe Biden's electoral victory during the night of Wednesday 6 to Thursday 7 January 2021, in the course of a joint session in Washington. The intrusion of Donald Trump's supporters into the Capitol therefore only interrupted the vote for a few hours.

The Guardian ✓ @guardian

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Congress certifies Joe Biden as next US president hours after pro-Trump mob storms Capitol – live theguardian.com/us-news/live/2…

♥ 628💬 17 7 gen 2021 · Apri su X →

306 electors voted in favour of Joe Biden

If the demonstration had aimed to delay the transition of power at the White House, it proved to be a failure. Republican Vice President Mike Pence announced the vote of 306 electors in favour of Biden, against 232 for Trump. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell opened the session by announcing that Parliament "will not be intimidated by thugs and threats. We will not bow to anarchy."

Utah Republican senator Mitt Romney also evoked the events, attributing responsibility for them in no uncertain terms "to the wounded ego of a selfish man and to the anger of his supporters." According to the senator, Trump "deliberately spread false information over the past two months and incited the crowd to act this morning. What happened is an insurrection, incited by the president of the United States. Those who continue to support dangerous conspiracies by opposing the results of a legitimate and democratic election will be remembered forever as complicit in an unprecedented attack on our democracy. We will remember them."