President Jimmy Carter’s funeral service Thursday at Washington’s National Cathedral brought together politicians of both parties and generated interaction between former running mates.

The service’s broadcast showed many attention-grabbing moments, like former President George W. Bush swiftly belly-tapping former President Barack Obama, and Mr. Obama’s conversation with President-elect Donald Trump within earshot of Vice President Kamala Harris. 

Also highlighted were the handshake and brief remarks between Mr. Trump and his first-term vice president, Mike Pence.

It was the first time the pair met and spoke since Jan. 6, 2021, when thousands of MAGA supporters stormed the Capitol and Mr. Pence ignored M. Trump’s wishes and certified Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential victory. 

“The opportunity to speak to the president yesterday is something that I appreciated, I welcomed,” Mr. Pence told Christianity Today Editor-in-Chief Russell Moore for a podcast episode slated to air Wednesday. 

“I’ve really been blessed at how much I’ve heard from people around the country who saw [our] handshake and in that handshake saw some hope that we might be moving past those difficult days,” he continued. “That’s certainly my hope.”

Despite winning the White House in 2016 and running together again four years later, the Trump-Pence relationship splintered following the Jan. 6 demonstration. Mr. Pence became a prominent Trump critic, even mounting a failed bid for the White House. 

Thursday’s meeting under somber circumstances didn’t have a warming effect on everyone. Karen Pence, Mr. Pence’s wife, refused to acknowledge the Trumps. 

Mr. Trump “greeted me when he came down the aisle. I stood up, extended my hand. He shook my hand. I said, ‘Congratulations, Mr. President,’ and he said, ‘Thanks, Mike,’” Mr. Pence said. “You’d have to ask my wife about her posture, but we’ve been married 44 years, and she loves her husband, and her husband respects her deeply.”

• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.