As they filed into the front pews at Washington National Cathedral, wearing dark suits and mostly solemn faces, five current and former presidents came together for Jimmy Carter's funeral. For a service that stretched more than an hour, the feuding, grievances and enmity that had marked their rival campaigns and divergent politics gave way to a reverential moment for one of their own.
Barack Obama and Donald Trump, the first two of the group to take their seats Thursday, shook hands and chatted at length. Trump, the former president who will retake the Oval Office in 11 days, leaned in and listened intently to his predecessor, notwithstanding the political chasm between them. At times, the two flashed smiles.
Obama, who attended without his wife, Michelle, shared a second-row pew with former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, along with their spouses. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrived last and sat in the pew just in front of them.
Members of the exclusive presidents' club were on their best behavior. Bonded by the presidency, they rarely criticize one another or the White House’s current occupant — though Trump has flouted those rules frequently. He has both praised and criticized Carter in recent days, and he complained that flags will still be at half-staff to honor the deceased president during his inauguration.
In one seemingly chilly moment, Trump looked up when Vice President Kamala Harris — whom he defeated in November's hard-fought election — entered the cathedral, but he didn't move to greet her as she and husband Doug Emhoff took seats directly in front of him and Melania Trump. Nor did Harris acknowledge him.
After the service, Emhoff made a point to turn around and shake hands with Trump.
Obama, with Trump on his left, also turned to his right to chat with Bush. Clinton, with wife Hillary, was the last of the ex-presidents to take a seat and got in some chatter with Bush as well.
The White House said the former presidents also met privately before taking their seats.
Funerals are among the few events that bring members of the presidents' club together. In a way, former President Gerald Ford was there, too: Ford's son Steven read a eulogy for Carter that Ford had written before he died in 2006.
Busy with personal pursuits, charitable endeavors and sometimes lucrative speaking gigs, the former leaders don’t mingle often. They all know the protocol of state funerals well — each has been involved in planning his own.
During the 2018 funeral for George H.W. Bush, then-President Trump sat with his predecessors and their spouses, including the Carters, and the interactions were stiff and sometimes awkward.
This time, Trump also didn't appear to interact with Hillary Clinton, whom he defeated in the 2016 election.
Trump was seated in the pew in front of his former vice president, Mike Pence — one of the few times they have coincided at events since Pence refused to overturn the results of the 2020 election after Trump lost to Biden. The two shook hands but didn't speak much beyond that. Pence's wife, Karen, appeared to avoid engaging with the president-elect.
Trump, who largely avoided contact with the former presidents during his first term — and pointedly did not seek their advice — has been critical of Republican former presidents, particularly the Bush family, which made him an uneasy member of the former presidents' club. Carter himself didn't particularly relish being a member of the club, at times criticizing its staid traditions.
Many past presidents have built relationships with their predecessors, including Bill Clinton, who reached out to Richard Nixon for advice on Russian policy, and Harry S. Truman, who sought counsel from Herbert Hoover.
One of the first calls Obama made after U.S. forces killed Osama bin Laden in 2011 was to George W. Bush to spread the word that the mission had been accomplished, said Kate Andersen Brower, author of “Team of Five: The Presidents Club in the Age of Trump.”
“It's the loneliest job in the world, so usually they reach out and rely on each other," said Andersen Brower. "But Trump didn't have that the first term, so this will just be another four years where he doesn't depend on anyone who came before him."
She noted that Carter spent years as a proud Washington outsider and skipped the unveiling of his own portrait to avoid being in the same room with the man who beat him in 1980, President Ronald Reagan.
“Carter and Trump, even though they have the least in common about everything else, are similar," Andersen Brower said, "in just how they approach telling what they actually think.”
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23 Comments
TaiwanIsNotChina
One would hope certain former presidents were learning about humility but I'm not holding my breath.
bass4funk
I agree
Pieter Reyneke
Look at all the other people showing respect with their hand on their hearts. Trump's on his stomach.
Ricky Kaminski13
Trump will be trump, that’s why he’s been chosen at this particular juncture in what is going to be turbulent time. The amiable, comfortable and what seemed to be a very natural and friendly exchange between him and Obama may confuse some people still afflicted with Trump derangement syndrome though.
Harris and Clinton unable to recognize his presence and shake his hand comes as no surprise though. Performing to the end. Pity, cause it would’ve been a mature gesture that showed a sense of maturity and humility, and funerals are certainly the place to make them.
We are all gunna get one eventually!
Jimizo
Mate, when supporting Trump, I wouldn’t call for maturity and humility. They aren’t exactly his strong points. His lack of them is actually a strong point for sone of his supporters.
Anyway, respects to Jimmy Carter. A fine human being. A credit to his country.
bass4funk
I disagree, I think the man was very cordial and pragmatic. Barry and him seemed to have a good time. That was nice to watch.
It depends, but the most important thing is he can adapt depending on the occasion, but will fight if need be.
Not lack, but his ability to never back down when the opposition throws everything at him is deeply admirable and something his adversaries never had to deal with former presidents who allowed themselves to be a political piñata. Very refreshing.
u_s__reamer
From the photo the felon's heart is in a different place, or was he thinking of food?
ok1517
Great picture.
While everyone is putting their right hand on their heart, Donald seems to be hungry!
And what happened to Melonia? Look at her hairstyle. Did she just get out of bed filming her first movie episode?
@bass: "Barry", are you talking about President Obama? If so, yes, you know, undisciplined children have to be entertained and when someone like Donald tells you over and over again: "I'm the best, I'm the greatest, I told them, and those MAGA freaks really believed it. Man, did I play them - like a fiddle!" - all you can do is laugh at him!
lincolnman
Well, I think it's more accurate to say it's a gathering of FOUR former and current Presidents....and one twice impeached, 34 felony convicted, adjudicated sexual predator, and tax fraud...and Alzheimer's patient...
Some dude
The Onion came up with a classic this morning: "Jealous Trump throws own state funeral to upstage Carter's"
bass4funk
I think they all look hungry tbh.
They all look they just got out of bed truth be told.
What?
zulander
Grammar
Brings together current and 5 former
Standards pls
NOMINATION
How about respecting the 5 that came together to pay their respects despite political indifferences instead of calling out people YOU hate?
zulander
is this a middle school creative writing exercise ?
lincolnman
Perfect picture showing just how much Trump's dementia has worsened...
When the host asks attendees to place their hand over their heart, this guy puts it on his gut....he can't even remember where his heart is located...
Hervé L'Eisa
For those nitpicking about the precise location of Trump's hand, note the similar locations of several others' hands including Bill Clinton.
Hervé L'Eisa
And notably absent is former First Lady Obama who is vacationing in Hawaii.
Blacklabel
Jimmy Carter funeral?
Ok, let’s talk about his life and achievements and express our condolences to his loved ones and those who care about him.
WoodyLee
Even in his death Pres. carter is a Unite and Not Divider .
He was and will always be remembered as a "PEACE MAKER" , the ingredient of genuine leadership.
stormcrow
The bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral, it’s surprising that Trump was behaving himself and making the effort to look presidential.
Zaphod
Jimizo
You think that feeling is shared in Taiwan, where he handed over recognition of China to the CCP? Or by the moderates in Iran, whe he helped to dispose of the secular Shah and helped to install Khomeni, who he called a "holy man"? "Fine human being" on a personal level perhaps, but not a legacy to be admired.
Xamo
It's pathetic that the entitled and perpetually aggrieved Michelle Obama couldn't be bothered to take a day away from her luxury vacation in Hawaii to pay respect to former President Jimmy Carter. Former President Obama, on the other hand, appeared to be enjoying the company of Donald Trump. I imagine that the heads of the dozens of regular MSNBC and CNN viewers were exploding as the insane narrative of Trump as Hitlter 2.0, what was left of it after Charles Schumer's friendly banter with Trump at the Al Smith Dinner, was finally put to rest.
Jim
Trump being Trump in the photo! Everyone putting their hand on the heart except for Trump who is the least bit bothered. He was probably thinking that he should be seated right in the front all by himself on a chair designed for kings and dictators!