Listen to article
Former US President Jimmy Carter was honoured with a state funeral at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, followed by a second service and burial in his Georgia hometown.
The service, marking the 39th president’s passing at the age of 100, was attended by all five living former US presidents.
President Joe Biden, along with former presidents Bill Clinton, George WÂ Bush, Barack Obama, and President-elect Donald Trump, made their first public appearance together since the funeral of George HWÂ Bush in 2018.
Trump and Obama were seated next to each other and were seen conversing amicably during the service. The country is observing a day of national mourning for Carter, who died in December 2024, less than two weeks before the White House transition from Biden to Trump.
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. While her office confirmed her absence, the reason for her nonattendance remains undisclosed.
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.
Amy Carter, the only daughter of Jimmy Carter, who has largely maintained a private life, was also present at the service. Jimmy Carter had four children with his late wife Rosalynn Carter, and Amy Carter is the youngest.
The former US ambassador to the UN Rev Andrew Young also reflected on his bond with the deceased president, calling him a blessing from God during Carter’s state funeral.
