Former U.S. President Donald Trump paid his respects to the late Jimmy Carter during a ceremony at the Capitol on Wednesday. Standing solemnly with his wife, Melania, Trump observed a moment of silence beside Carter’s flag-draped coffin in the Capitol Rotunda, a space symbolizing the nation’s highest honors. After a brief pause, Trump took Melania’s hand and departed the solemn scene.
This moment of reflection comes four years after the Capitol was stormed by Trump supporters during an effort to disrupt the certification of his 2020 election loss to President Joe Biden. Despite that tumultuous history, Trump has staged a political comeback, winning the November 2024 election. He is set to be inaugurated as the 47th U.S. president on January 20, though the occasion will occur during a period of national mourning for Carter, marked by flags at half-staff.
Trump has expressed discontent with this tradition, stating that “no Americans can be happy” about the lowered flags as his presidency begins. The 30-day mourning period, however, is a customary honor for deceased U.S. presidents.
Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29 at the age of 100, served as the 39th U.S. president from 1977 to 1981. Although his presidency was often criticized for its political challenges, Carter earned widespread admiration for his humanitarian efforts after leaving office. His dedication to global peace and philanthropy earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
The late president’s body will lie in state at the Capitol until Thursday, allowing members of the public to pay their respects. Carter’s state funeral will take place at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., a venue that has hosted services for several past presidents, including Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and George H.W. Bush.
President Joe Biden, a fellow Democrat, will deliver the eulogy during the service. Trump, along with other living former presidents—Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama—is expected to attend the ceremony to honor Carter’s legacy.