Trump, Obama, Bush, Clinton join Biden for Jimmy Carter’s funeral
WASHINGTON - All of the living former U.S. presidents were in Washington today for the funeral of Jimmy Carter, a rare scene that included moments of both levity and gravitas.
President-elect Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama, former President George W. Bush and former President Bill Clinton arrived just before 10 a.m. and were seated next to each other. Melania Trump was seated next to her husband. Former first ladies Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton were in the same row as well, though there was no apparent sign of Michelle Obama.
CNN reported Michelle Obama was on an "extended vacation" in Hawaii. Her office confirmed she did not attend the funeral but did not say where she was or why she was absent.
"Former First Lady Michelle Obama is not in attendance at President Carter’s National Funeral Service," according to the statement from spokesperson Crystal Carson to the Associated Press. "Mrs. Obama sends her thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from the remarkable former President."
Trump and Pence
Former US Vice President Mike Pence (L) shakes hands with President-elect Donald Trump before a State Funeral Service for former US president Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, on January 9, 2025. (Photo by MANDEL NG
Former vice presidents, including Al Gore and Mike Pence, were seated behind the former presidents. Trump and Pence shared a handshake; it’s likely the first time the two have been in the same room since their relationship turned contentious following the 2020 election in which Pence refused to publicly support false claims that the election had been rigged against Trump.
Trump and Obama also chatted briefly and appeared to share a few laughs, though the subject of their conversation was unclear.
Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff were seated in front of the former presidents. Harris did not initially appear to interact with Trump, who defeated her in last year's election.
After the service, though, Emhoff made a point to turn around and shake hands with Trump.
Jimmy Carter funeral schedule
The national funeral service got underway at 10 a.m. and lasted for about two hours. After the service, Carter’s family and his remains are heading to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to board Special Air Mission 39.
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They will fly back to Georgia to land at 2 p.m. at Lawson Army Airfield near Columbus. A hearse will carry Carter’s remains back to the Carters' home town of Plains. An invitation-only funeral will be held at Maranatha Baptist Church in tiny Plains, Georgia, where Carter taught Sunday School for decades after leaving office, at 3:45 p.m.
After the private funeral, Carter’s remains will be moved to the Carter residence for an internment ceremony at 5:20 p.m. The U.S. Navy will conduct a flyover to honor his time in the Navy and his time as commander in chief.
The Source: Information for this story was drawn from video coverage of the funeral service in Washington, along with accounts from Associated Press reporters at the event. Heather Miller and previous FOX Television Stations reporting contributed.