The US Congress is due to meet on Monday to certify Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election against Vice President Kamala Harris.
The vice president is responsible for presiding over the counting of the results from each of the country’s 50 states, which places Harris in the position of certifying her own defeat.
The procedure has long been a formality in the electoral process, but it turned chaotic four years ago when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, injuring about 140 police officers, vandalizing the building and sending lawmakers scrambling to get to safety.
Similar scenes are not expected on Monday, with Harris conceding defeat and President Joe Biden emphasizing the need for a peaceful process.
Authorities prepared just in case, erecting tall metal barriers around the Capitol complex.
Speaking at the White House on Sunday, Biden called what happened on January 6, 2021, “one of the most difficult days in American history.”
“We need to get back to the basic, normal transfer of power,” Biden said.
He added that Trump’s behavior four years ago, which included repeated false claims that he won the election, “poses a real threat to democracy.”
“I hope we’re past that point now,” Biden said.
More than 1,500 people have been charged for storming the Capitol. Trump has pledged to issue pardons quickly after taking office on January 20.
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