It's now official. Donald Trump will be the 47th^Th President of the United States. The Republican candidate won the US presidential election on Tuesday, November 5th against his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris. But before he returns to the White House for a second term, the president-elect must await several events including the certification of results by the states and the official vote of the Electoral College.

Until then, a transition phase will begin that will allow the Biden administration to gradually hand over power to the new president's team. Here are the key dates to remember ahead of Trump's official inauguration, scheduled for January 20, 2025.

Until December 11, 2024: The process of certifying the election results

Now that election results have been announced by the media and accepted by candidates, a vote certification process will begin nationwide to allow state and local authorities to conduct any necessary recounts and resolve election-related disputes. Certification procedures and deadlines vary from state to state (November 25 for Arizona and Michigan, December 1 for Wisconsin, etc.), but all states must absolutely complete this process before the December 11 deadline, according to a passed law to reform the electoral counting stipulates 2022.

The results are then certified by local officials (governor, secretary of state) and the certificates of determination are then forwarded to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and Congress. As part of this process, designated voters for each state are also officially registered.

December 17, 2024: Electoral College vote

On this day, the 538 electors come together to form the Electoral College in their respective state capitals. At this point they officially elect the President and Vice President. These votes will then be transmitted to the President of the Senate no later than the fourth Wednesday in December, which this year falls on December 25th. Certificates of this vote are also kept in the archives.

January 6, 2025: Congress confirms the results

Three days after the swearing-in, Congress meets in joint session to count the votes, certify the results, and confirm the names of the president and vice president. The President of the Senate – the Vice President of the United States – then traditionally officially confirms the results. Ironically, Harris, the losing candidate, must take on this role.

During that session, on January 6, 2021, Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol to prevent then-Vice President Mike Pence from declaring Joe Biden's victory. After this break, the congressional session resumed in the evening to officially confirm Biden's entry into the White House.

January 20, 2025: Trump's official inauguration

The new president will take office on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. This date officially marks the start of Trump's second term as president and the end of Biden's.

The inauguration ceremony is punctuated by several key moments. Artists usually perform at this event. In 2021, Lady Gaga sang the American national anthem for Biden, while Jennifer Lopez covered Woody Guthrie's famous folk song “This Land is Your Land.” In 2017, during Trump's first term, the anthem was sung by a former contestant on the reality show America's Got Talent. Most of the stars contacted had declined to take part.

However, the most important event of the day usually takes place around noon, when Trump is sworn in. Tradition dictates that the new leader place his left hand on the Bible (this is not a requirement) and swear before the President of the Supreme Court to protect the Constitution by raising his right hand:

“I solemnly swear that I will faithfully discharge the office of President of the United States and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me, God.”

Vice President JD Vance will also be sworn in at this time. Finally, Trump will give a closing speech. The day traditionally ends with a parade, the signing of documents officially appointing the new presidential cabinet and a subsequent inaugural ball.