The funeral of former President Jimmy Carter brought together an unlikely gathering of current and former presidents, with some surprising and historic encounters. The ceremony, which saw a diagram of acrimony play out in the first two pews, included former Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump sitting together, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff, who sat in front of Trump. Obama has said Trump is unfit to serve in the White House, while Trump has repeatedly questioned Obama’s US citizenship.
Despite their differences, the gathering served as a reminder that even political adversaries can find common ground. A touching example of this was the friendship between Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, who became close friends after their election defeats. They even agreed to deliver eulogies at each other’s funerals, with Ford’s son, actor Steven Ford, delivering his father’s prepared remarks at Carter’s funeral.
The story of Ford and Carter’s friendship was a powerful reminder of the importance of putting politics in its place. Ford said that they forged a friendship during a flight together, where they talked about their experiences as presidents and discovered that “there is indeed life after the White House.” They shared a desire to tackle the Palestinian issue and work towards lasting peace in the Middle East, which Ford said “ruffled feathers” in Washington.
As the funeral procession continued, some of the assembled presidents were seen chatting and laughing together, including Obama and Trump. It is unclear if they will develop a similar friendship like Ford and Carter, but their encounter serves as a reminder that even political enemies can find common ground. With Trump’s retirement from politics imminent, it remains to be seen if he will join the “former presidents club” with a newfound sense of peace and respect for his predecessors.
