Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that he has “respect” for how Vice President Kamala Harris handled the certification process of the presidential election.Newsweek contacted McCarthy, a spokesperson for Harris and the Trump transition team via email on Monday for comment.Why It MattersHarris, the Democratic nominee for president during the 2024 election, facilitated certification of the election results formally noting her competitor President-elect Donald Trump as the winner on Monday.She spoke during the process as the president of the Senate, among her official duties as vice president. The process was markedly different from four years ago, when Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol during the 2020 election certification on January 6, 2021.What To KnowSpeaking on Fox News’ Jesse Watters Primetime Monday night, McCarthy told host Watters, “You know what, I say a lot of bad things about Kamala Harris, but I’m going to say something different. I respect what she did today. And she stood there, she said it, you know it was tough, and she was professional about it.”The certification proceeded without drama, with Harris keeping her remarks perfunctory. She stood with her hands clasped while state results were read aloud, and after less than 30 minutes, she formally announced Trump’s victory.As Republicans applauded, Harris smiled gracefully and declared, “The chair declares this joint session resolved. Thank you.”Watters: Should Kamala Harris have called in sick today?McCarthy: I respect what she did today. She stood there, it was tough, and she was professional about it. pic.twitter.com/PgY1YO4CHc— Acyn (@Acyn) January 7, 2025
What People Are SayingGOP House Speaker Mike Johnson also praised Harris on Monday night, saying to Newsmax: “We didn’t really talk about the election, that would’ve been a bit awkward, but you said that she did it with grace and I think she did. You know, it was a tough thing to do. I mean this was a landslide for President Trump, and we’re so excited about that.”Harris addressed reporters as she left the building: “It’s a peaceful transfer of power. It’s a good day.”Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s transition team spokesperson and incoming White House press secretary, issued a statement saying there will be “a smooth transition of power” and that “President Trump will deliver on his promise to serve ALL Americans and will unify the country through success.”
Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speak before President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on February 7, 2023, in Washington, D.C. McCarthy said he “respected” Harris after her certification…
Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy speak before President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on February 7, 2023, in Washington, D.C. McCarthy said he “respected” Harris after her certification of Trump’s victory. (Photo by Jacquelyn Martin-Pool/Getty Images)
More
What Happens NextTrump’s inauguration is January 20 at the U.S. Capitol.The certification marked Harris joining a small but significant group of vice presidents who have certified their own electoral defeats, including former President Richard Nixon in 1960 and ex-U.S. Senator Al Gore in 2000. However, she stands alone in having to certify results for a candidate who previously refused to concede an election and whose supporters violently disrupted the same process four years earlier.
