The US Congress on Thursday certified Joe Biden’s win in November’s presidential election, hours after President Trump’s supporters laid siege on the Capitol on Wednesday.

Republican Vice President Mike Pence certified the Electoral College count of 306 electors in favour of the Democrat against 232 in favour of outgoing Republican President Donald Trump.

Lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives successfully beat back Republican efforts to deny Biden the electoral votes needed to win, prompting loud cheers when the certification was announced.

The affirmation of Biden’s 306-232 victory over Trump in November essentially closes the door on the unparalleled and deeply controversial effort by Trump and his loyalists to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

The president immediately released a statement pledging an “orderly transition” but suggesting he would remain in frontline politics, amid speculation that he may run again in 2024.

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He said: “Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless, there will be an orderly transition on January 20th.

“I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!”

The certification came hours after a mob breached the US Capitol and sent lawmakers scrambling for safety. They were able to return hours later, shaken but determined to complete the task.

Wednesday evening, Mr Biden, seeking to tamp down the anarchy that Mr Trump stoked with angry language just hours earlier, Mr Biden urged rioters to abandon what amounted to the armed occupation of the House and Senate.

The president-elect denounced Mr Trump’s refusal to graciously accept defeat and suggested that the president was to blame for the violence.

“At their best, the words of a president can inspire,” Mr Biden said. “At their worst, they can incite.”

Far from discouraging confrontation, Mr Trump had encouraged his supporters earlier Wednesday to confront Republican lawmakers going against him to side with the Constitution.