Former US President Jimmy Carter had a state funeral at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, followed by a second service and burial in his Georgia hometown.
The ceremony, marking the death of the 39th president at the age of 100, brought together the five living former American presidents.
President Joe Biden, along with former presidents Bill Clinton, George W Bush, Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump, made their first public appearance together since George HW Bush’s funeral in 2018.
Trump and Obama were seated next to each other and were seen having a friendly conversation during the service. The country is observing a national day of mourning for Carter, who died in December 2024, less than two weeks before the transition from Biden to Trump in the White House.
The ceremony was also attended by First Lady Jill Biden and former First Lady Melania Trump. Michelle Obama, however, did not attend the state funeral. Although his office confirmed his absence, the reason for his absence was not disclosed.
Other notable figures included former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as international dignitaries such as outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Also present at the ceremony was Amy Carter, Jimmy Carter’s only daughter, who has largely maintained a private life. Jimmy Carter had four children with his late wife Rosalynn Carter, and Amy Carter is the youngest.
Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Rev. Andrew Young also spoke about his connection to the late president, calling it a blessing from God during Carter’s state funeral.
