Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Jan 12: The state funeral of former US President Jimmy Carter, held at the Washington National Cathedral, brought together five current and former American presidents in a rare moment of bipartisanship amid the deeply polarized political landscape. However, controversy emerged after photographs shared by Vice President Kamala Harris and the Carter Center conspicuously omitted Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, who were present at the ceremony.
Trump, who served as the 45th and 47th president, attended the service alongside his Democratic successor, president Joe Biden, as well as former presidents Bill Clinton, George W Bush, and Barack Obama. This marked the first public interaction between Harris and Trump since Trump’s defeat in the contentious 2024 presidential elections.
The photograph shared on Harris’s official social media account depicted Biden, Clinton, and Obama with their hands over their hearts, while George W Bush’s face was partially obscured by Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff. Trump and Melania, who stood next to Obama, were entirely blocked from view by a large pillar in the image.
In her tribute post to Carter, Harris wrote, “President Jimmy Carter loved our country. He lived his faith, served the people, and left the world better than he found it.”
A similar photo shared by the Carter Center also excluded the Trumps. In the second row, Clinton, Laura Bush, and Obama were visible, while Hillary Clinton and George Bush were partially obscured. Trump and Melania were again missing.
It remains unclear whether the exclusion of the Trumps from the widely circulated photographs was intentional. Other images taken at the event confirmed their presence, with Trump seen in friendly conversation with Obama despite their past political clashes.
The funeral, honouring Carter’s legacy at the age of 100, was a poignant moment that highlighted both unity and lingering political divides. Former vice president Mike Pence, who served under Trump but distanced himself following the January 6 Capitol riots, was also in attendance with his wife, Karen Pence. Notably, Karen appeared to avoid Trump during the ceremony, as did George W Bush and other dignitaries.
Former first lady Michelle Obama was absent from the event, adding another layer of intrigue to the dynamics at play.
The funeral served as a reflection of Carter’s enduring legacy of service and bipartisanship, even as the event underscored the persistent tensions within American political circles.