Trump Addresses Nation After Congress Certifies Him as Next US President

With the nation's capital buried under a white blanket of snow and most of the city shut down by a massive blizzard, Congress convened Monday to conduct their constitutional duty of certifying the next president of the United States. Donald Trump has now officially been certified as president.

On Tuesday morning, Trump addressed the nation by holding his first press conference since being certified, announcing a big overseas tech investment in the U.S. and promising that he will be delivering a "Golden Age" to America. He also warned Hamas to release all the Jewish hostages it still holds captive in Gaza.

WATCH the FULL VIDEO:  President-elect Trump News Conference from Mar-a-lago

On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the proceedings in Congress as the inclement weather couldn't stop both the House and Senate from meeting in the joint session to officially certify the 2024 election results on Capitol Hill.  Trump received 312 electoral votes, exceeding the 270 votes needed to win the White House. Harris only won 226 electoral votes. 

For the first time, January 6 was designated a national security event, at the request of D.C.'s mayor. The heightened security measures were in place to prevent disruptions to the ceremony, as happened last time. On January 6, 2021, Trump urged protestors to march to the Capitol, calling on then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject the results of the 2020 election.

More than 1,200 people have been convicted or pled guilty to charges tied to the attack that followed. Trump has promised to pardon some, calling them "political prisoners."

Monday's counting of the Electoral College votes won by Trump and Harris was the final official step to confirm Trump's victory, setting the stage for Inauguration Day on January 20 when Trump will reclaim the White House. 

For the Inaugural event, authorities are adding fencing around the perimeter, closing roads, and deploying a large law enforcement presence. The security measures are especially significant after two assassination attempts by gunmen targeting Trump in 2024.

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Meanwhile, federal offices were closed across Washington, D.C. Before the snowstorm hit, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told Fox News bad weather would not delay Congress's certification of Donald Trump's election victory. 

"As you know, the Electoral Count Act requires this on January 6th at 1:00 PM, so whether we're in a blizzard or not, we are going to be in that chamber making sure this gets done," Johnson had said.

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