Payam Javan: Donald Trump has officially secured the presidency following the Electoral College vote on December 17, 2024. His victory was finalized when Texas delivered its 40 electoral votes, pushing him to a total of 312, well above the 270 needed to win. This solidifies his defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election and paves the way for his second term in the White House.

In addition to the presidency, the Republican Party achieved a significant victory by gaining control of both the House and Senate, a political trifecta hailed by Trump’s campaign as an “unprecedented mandate.” As the transition progresses, Trump has started assembling his cabinet, announcing high-profile nominations such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services Secretary and Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence. Formal certification steps will continue, with Congress set to confirm the results on January 6 before the inauguration of Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance on January 20.