On Thursday, January 9, all five living U.S. Presidents—Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush—gathered in Washington to attend the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter.
Barack Obama arrived without his wife, Michelle, and made his way to greet the other former presidents and vice presidents before the service. Each stood to acknowledge him, except for Donald Trump, who remained seated beside his wife, Melania Trump.
Despite the initial tension, later in the event, Obama and Trump were seen warming up to each other, even sharing a laugh. This moment of camaraderie came weeks after Trump posted a meme mocking Obama, referencing the latter’s skepticism about Trump’s presidential prospects.
The meme read: “When you see the guy, who said, ‘You’ll never be President,’ at your inauguration.”
In another notable interaction, Trump greeted and shook hands with his former vice president, Mike Pence, despite their strained relationship. The tension between the two dates back to the end of Trump’s presidency, when Pence refused Trump’s request to overturn the 2020 election results on January 6, 2021, just before the Capitol riot.
At the funeral, Pence was seated directly behind Trump in the third row, alongside former Vice President Al Gore. As Trump entered his row, Gore stood and shook Trump’s hand, followed by Pence, who also exchanged a handshake with Trump.
The event served as a rare moment of unity, bringing together leaders across political divides to honor the legacy of Jimmy Carter.
