President-elect Donald Trump and his former vice president, Mike Pence, were reunited for the first time since January, 2021 at the funeral of the late Jimmy Carter.
The handshake between the two men, almost four years to the day when Trump supporters called for Pence’s execution for not stopping the certification of the 2020 Electoral College results, were one of many notable interactions between the living current and former presidents and vice presidents gathered at the Washington National Cathedral on Wednesday for Carter’s official state funeral service. Carter died last month at the age of 100.
Trump was seated beside former President Barack Obama, the pair captured on camera having an long, animated conversation, despite Obama only months ago warning voters about the dangers of a second Trump presidency before last year’s election. Years prior Trump encouraged speculation about whether or not Obama was born in the U.S., which would have precluded him from being commander in chief.
Obama then engaged in a discussion with Mike Pence, who was sitting behind him with his wife Karen. Former first lady Michelle Obama had a scheduling conflict in Hawaii and could not attend.
Obama also stood up to permit former President George W. Bush and one-time first lady Laura Bush to pass him in their pew. The cameras did not pick up whether the Bushes spoke with Donald Trump or incoming first lady Melania Trump.
Former President Bill Clinton and one-time Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were assigned seats on the same pew as Obama and Trump, but on the opposite end and entered from the other side, avoiding an awkward interaction between the bitter political opponents.
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President Joe Biden, who will eulogize Carter, and Vice President Kamala Harris were positioned in the pew in front of their predecessors, with first lady Jill Biden and Harris next to each other.
Harris was seen stealing a glance at Trump, who defeated her last November to return to the White House next week.