Former President Jimmy Carter—who died last month at the age of 100—will be memorialized in a state funeral at the National Cathedral on Thursday, attended by all living presidents and marked by a national day of mourning.
Former President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump chat at the state funeral for Jimmy ... [+]
Carter’s grandson, James Carter IV, spoke.
President Joe Biden spoke about how he endorsed Carter’s presidential candidacy “based on what I believe is Jimmy Carter’s enduring attribute: character, character, character,” adding, “we have an obligation to give hate no safe harbor and to stand up to what my dad would say is the greatest sin of all: the abuse of power.”
Carter’s grandson, Jason Carter, remembered his grandparents as “small town people who never forgot who they were and where they were from no matter what happened in their lives, but I recognize that we are not here, because he was just a regular guy.”
Carter’s former adviser Stuart Eizenstat said he wanted to “lay to rest the myth that his greatest achievements came only as a former president,” calling him “among the most consequential one-term presidents”—pushing back on a common view of Carter’s presidency.
Ted Mondale, the son of Carter’s late Vice President Walter Mondale, read a eulogy by his father, but—during a section on how Carter helped Vietnamese immigrants—left out a line in the prepared text contrasting “how we are tragically dealing with the crisis of immigrants today,” according to The New York Times.
Mondale’s eulogy recalled their time in the White House as a “marker for Americans dedicated to justice and decency” and how “Carter was far-sighted” and “put aside his short-term political interests to tackle challenges that demanded sacrifice.”
Steven Ford, the son of Carter’s close friend former President Gerald Ford, read a eulogy written by his father, who died in 2006, recounting how their friendship began years after they ran against each other in 1976: “It was somewhere over the Atlantic that Jimmy and I forged a friendship that transcends politics,” Ford wrote, recounting how he and Carter became friends on a flight to Cairo for former Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat’s funeral. “Honesty and truth-telling were synonymous with the name Jimmy Carter.”
Carter’s grandson, Joshua Carter, spoke about his grandfather’s legacy: “My grandfather spent the entire time I’ve known him helping those in need. He built houses for those who needed homes,” Joshua Carter said, recalling his grandfather’s extensive involvement in Habitat for Humanity. “He eliminated diseases in forgotten places. He waged peace, anywhere in the world, wherever he saw a chance. He loved people.”
The service begins as Carter’s casket is carried into the Cathedral by military officers, with his family proceeding.
Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive, and are seated next to Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.
Trump and former President Barack Obama—seated next to each other in the pews—appeared to have an engrossing conversation, with Obama laughing several times, a surprising moment for the two rivals.
Harris and Emhoff arrived at the service and were seated in the aisle in front of the four former presidents in attendance.
Former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura, and former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton arrived at the service, with the Bushes sitting next to Obama and the Clintons at the end of the aisle, opposite Trump.
Trump shook hands with former Vice President Mike Pence, marking the first time the two have been seen publicly in the same room in four years.
Trump and his wife Melania Trump arrived at the funeral and were seated next to Obama.
Carter’s casket arrived at the National Cathedral.
Carter’s casket departed the U.S. Capitol, where it had been lying in state since Tuesday, for the National Cathedral.
Carter's casket arrives inside Washington National Cathedral. (Photo by Haiyun Jiang-Pool/Getty ... [+]
President-elect Donald Trump speaks with former U.S. President Barack Obama as Melania Trump looks ... [+]
Every living former president and first lady is seated at the National Cathedral.
Former Vice President Mike Pence shakes hands with President-elect Donald Trump. (Photo by MANDEL ... [+]
U.S. Military Body Bearers carry Carter's casket up the stairs of the Washington National Cathedral. ... [+]
Carter's casket arrives at the Washington National Cathedral. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty ... [+]
Former First Lady Michelle Obama did not attend the funeral service due to a scheduling conflict, an unnamed source told The New York Times. An Obama spokesperson told the paper she “sends her thoughts and prayers to the Carter family.” Former President Barack Obama attended the funeral, along with every other living president.
President Joe Biden designated Thursday a national day of mourning in recognition of Carter’s funeral. Flags will remain at half-staff until later this month, and most federal agencies and the New York Stock Exchange are closed.
Biden, among others, is also scheduled to deliver remarks at the service. Following the service, his body will be flown to Georgia by about 2 p.m. and driven to his hometown of Plains, for a private funeral service at around 3:45 p.m., and a procession through downtown Plains, according to organizers. Carter, who served as president from 1977 to 1981, will be buried next to his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter, who died in November 2023.