Donald Trump, following his victory in the US presidential election over Kamala Harris, is set to return to the White House, though his inauguration is still months away, on January 20, 2025. Several key steps remain in the process:

1. *White House Visit*: Trump has surpassed the Electoral College threshold and Harris has conceded, though the final vote tally is still pending. President Joe Biden has invited Trump to the White House for a visit, which is expected to be awkward given their tense history.

2. *Transition*: Trump’s team is already working on staffing his administration. Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick have been appointed as transition co-chairs, with Trump expected to announce key appointments soon. Controversial names like Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are reportedly under consideration for senior roles.

3. *State Certification (Dec 17)*: Each state will certify its election results, a step Trump and his allies contested in 2020. Electors will meet to formally cast their votes.

4. *Congressional Certification (Jan 6)*: A joint session of Congress will count the electoral votes, with Vice President Harris certifying Trump’s victory. This step is crucial but was marred by the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

5. *Inauguration (Jan 20)*: Trump’s second term will officially begin with his swearing-in ceremony at noon, making him the nation’s 47th president. Unlike Biden, Trump did not attend the 2021 inauguration, and it’s uncertain whether he will extend the same gesture.

The path from election to inauguration is full of procedural milestones, some of which Trump’s supporters previously sought to disrupt, but it is now a routine part of American democracy.