Jimmy Carter’s Funeral Live Updates: Service Begins at Washington National Cathedral with All 5 Presidents

All five living U.S. presidents are under the same roof for Carter’s funeral service: Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Trump, whom Carter publicly criticized in his later years, previously revealed that he received and accepted the invitation.

President Carter’s casket is on display at the Washington National Cathedral as his formal funeral service kicks off.

President Joe Biden, who was credited as the first politician outside of Georgia to endorse Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign, plans to give a eulogy during the service.

Trump and Pence Shake Hands in First Reunion Since Jan. 6 Fallout

President-elect Donald Trump shook the hand of his former Vice President Mike Pence when the two arrived at the state funeral.

Trump and Pence have not been in the same room for four years, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins reports, after they had a falling out over Pence’s certification of the 2020 election results.

President-elect Donald Trump did not stand when former President Barack Obama greeted the former first and second families seated in the front rows.

But moments later, Trump — who is seated directly beside Obama — began talking at length with him. Obama spent the 2024 election campaigning against Trump.

Michelle Obama Is Not with Barack Today

Jimmy Carter Made His Final Public Appearance in November 2023

In November 2023, President Carter showed his face to the world for the last time as he mourned his wife of 77 years, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, at two memorial services. He was nine months into hospice care at the time and sat in a wheelchair surrounded by his children.

At the first tribute service, he wore a blanket on his lap that was embroidered with his and Rosalynn’s faces. At the second service, in their local church, he wore a red lei as a nod to Rosalynn’s love of Hawaii.

This Will Be the First Presidential Funeral in 6 Years

The last time world leaders gathered for a president’s state funeral was in December 2018, to remember President George H.W. Bush, who died on Nov. 30 of that year. The funeral similarly brought all the living presidents together — and led to a viral moment when Bush’s son, former President George W. Bush, reached over the Trumps to slip a piece of candy to former first lady Michelle Obama at the service.

At the time of Bush Sr.’s death at 94 years and 171 days old, he was the longest-living president in history. Carter beat that record only a few months later, and went on to reach 100 years and 89 days old.

President Carter Never Fit in at the Capitol

Nearly 48 years ago on Jan. 20, 1977, Carter stood at the Capitol as a humble outsider to take the oath of office. During his four years in the White House, he had an often-difficult working relationship with members  of Congress on Capitol Hill.

Positioning himself as a regular man of the people who refused to play political games, Carter eventually made strides in getting major legislation passed related to energy reform, mental health care, and the creation of the Departments of Education and Energy.

Carter Leaves Capitol Hill for Good

President Carter has been ceremoniously carried out of the U.S. Capitol for the final time after lying in state under the dome since Tuesday evening.

President Joe Biden declared Thursday, Jan. 9, a national day of mourning for President Carter, writing in a proclamation, “I call on the American people to assemble on that day in their respective places of worship, there to pay homage to the memory of President James Earl Carter, Jr.”

To keep the focus on Carter on the day of his funeral services, Biden closed all executive departments and federal agencies on Thursday, giving federal workers a paid day off.

The day of mourning means post offices will be closed, as well as the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. Banks, however, are allowed to stay open unlike on other federal holidays.

President Carter’s casket will begin the day in the U.S. Capitol rotunda and end in a burial plot beside Rosalynn Carter in Plains, Ga. Here’s the full schedule of events, in Eastern time, according to The Carter Center:

• 7 a.m.: Lying in state and public visitation ended
• 9 a.m.: Carter’s remains are removed from the Capitol with a ceremony
• 9:30 a.m.: Carter’s remains arrive at the Washington National Cathedral
• 10 a.m.: The national funeral service begins
• 11:15 a.m.: Carter and his family travel by motorcade to Joint Base Andrews
• 11:45 a.m.: Carter and family board Special Air Mission 39 for the final journey home to Georgia
• 2 p.m.: Special Air Mission 39 arrives at Lawson Army Airfield on Fort Moore
• 3:30 p.m.: Carter and his family’s motorcade arrive at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains
• 3:45 p.m.: A private funeral service takes place at Maranatha Baptist Church
• 4:45 p.m.: The late president and his family travel by motorcade to the Carter residence
• 5:20 p.m.: A private interment ceremony takes place