By Neil Vigdor
The funeral of former President Jimmy Carter on Thursday saw the gathering of five current and former presidents. However, the images posted on social media by Vice President Kamala Harris and the Carter Center notably excluded one participant: President-elect Donald Trump.
Harris, who faced a contentious election against Trump, and Carter were both subjects of Trump’s sharp criticism. He attended the funeral at Washington National Cathedral with his spouse, Melania Trump.
The image posted from the vice president’s official social media accounts on Saturday prominently featured the three Democratic leaders.
In the photo, President Joe Biden stood alongside former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, with their hands placed over their hearts. Former President George W. Bush, representing the Republican party, was partially blocked from view by Doug Emhoff, Harris’ husband, who occupied a position next to her in the front pew.
Trump was seated adjacent to Obama. A large pillar in the image appeared to obscure both Donald and Melania Trump, who were located at the end of their row.
“President Jimmy Carter cherished our nation,” Harris wrote in her update. “He embodied his beliefs, dedicated himself to serving the public, and improved the world around him.”
The Carter Center, a nonprofit organization established by Carter post-presidency, released a different photograph on Thursday of the funeral atmosphere. Captured from a lower angle, it depicted attendees seated, with the president and vice president along with their partners clearly visible in the front row. In the second row, Clinton, Laura Bush, and Obama were identifiable. Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush were somewhat obscured, and the Trumps were completely out of sight.
It remained uncertain whether the omission of Donald Trump was deliberate. Other images taken by the press during the funeral included all five presidents in one frame.
A spokesperson for Harris’ office opted not to comment on Saturday.
The Carter Center and the team facilitating Trump’s White House transition have not yet responded to inquiries for comments.
The state funeral for Carter, who held the title of the nation’s oldest living former president when he passed away at the age of 100, was characterized by a rare show of bipartisanship amid a backdrop of significant political discord. Obama engaged in friendly conversation with Trump, who had spent years attempting to discredit the legitimacy of Obama’s administration with unfounded allegations regarding his citizenship.
Other Republican figures present included Mike Pence, who served as Trump’s vice president during his first term and was confronted by rioters during the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Pence had refrained from endorsing Trump during the election due to his conduct during the riot. At the funeral, they shared an awkward handshake.
Several other dignitaries appeared to deliberately avoid handshakes with Trump, including Karen Pence, Pence’s spouse, and Bush.
Michelle Obama, the former first lady, was not present at the service.
