List Of Major Events Before Trump Takes Over As President

Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump has won the 2024 U.S. presidential election, crossing the threshold of 270 electoral votes across seven key battleground states.

His victory sets the stage for a second term, marking his return to the White House four years after his previous tenure ended.

President Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States, now has 75 days remaining in office. Trump’s inauguration is slated for January 20, 2025, on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., where he will formally assume his role as the 47th President.

The post-election period includes several key dates that ensure the integrity and transparency of the electoral process. Notable dates include:

November 7 – Certification of State Results Begins

After the initial vote count, states begin verifying results. States such as Delaware certify results early, while key battlegrounds like Georgia, Michigan and Nevada have until late November. Arizona will complete this process by December 2, with other states following similar deadlines.

November 11 – Presidential Transition Briefings

Should there be ambiguity in the winner by this date, federal agencies begin parallel briefings for both campaign teams. This was further reinforced by the 2022 Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act, ensuring smooth transition preparation even in contested outcomes.

November 26 – Trump Sentencing in Hush Money Case

Trump’s legal hurdles continue as he faces sentencing for his conviction related to hush-money payments made in 2016. The New York State Supreme Court will rule on potential penalties, although these state-level convictions cannot be pardoned by a sitting president, as confirmed by Time.

December 11 – State Executives Sign Certificates of Ascertainment

By this date, governors are required to sign certificates allocating their state’s electors to the winning candidate. These documents confirm each state’s electoral votes and are sent to Congress and the Archivist of the United States.

December 17 – Electoral College Voting

The Electoral College officially convenes on the first Tuesday following the second Wednesday of December, which in 2024 falls on December 17. Electors from each state cast their votes, sealed with the certificates signed by governors, and these are forwarded to Congress.

December 25 – Arrival of Electoral Votes in D.C.

Electoral votes must arrive by the fourth Wednesday in December, which this year is Christmas Day. If votes are delayed, the Archivist or the Senate President can request additional copies from state election officials.

January 3 – New Congress Sworn In

Members of the new Congress are sworn in, with the House electing its Speaker. The newly seated Congress will later count the electoral votes.

January 6 – Congressional Count of Electoral Votes

On January 6, at 1 p.m., the electoral votes are counted in a joint session presided over by Vice President Kamala Harris. Following reforms from the Electoral Count Reform Act, the vice president’s role in this process is purely ceremonial, clarifying the limited scope for objections to the electoral count.

January 20 – Inauguration Day

The president-elect will take the Oath of Office around noon, marking the official transfer of power. Biden has confirmed he will attend the ceremony, underscoring his commitment to a peaceful transition.

According to the Times, each of these milestones upholds the integrity of the U.S. presidential transition, reflecting the careful balance between electoral tradition and legal safeguards to ensure a seamless transition of power.