International

Drama At Carter’s Funeral: Awkward Greetings and Political Divides on Display

Published

8 hours ago

Jan 10, 2025.

Femi Fabunmi

Drama At Carter’s Funeral on Thursday
There Were Awkward Greetings and Political Divides on Display
President-Elect Trump, Bush Avoid Each other

Former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral took place on Thursday at Washington, D.C.’s National Cathedral.

It was a rare gathering of the country’s past and present leaders, with all five living former presidents in attendance. The event was marked by moments of tension, politeness, and noticeable snubs among the leaders.

EDITOR’s PICK
Alli-Balogun Warns Lagos Teachers to Put End to Mass Promotion
Opposition Slams FG Over N55bn Allocation For Presidential Jet Maintenance
Kanu Demands Change Of Judge, Rejects Trial Resumption

The ceremony began with the arrival of President-elect Donald Trump and his wife, Melania. As they entered, they stopped to greet former Vice Presidents Al Gore and Mike Pence. Both Gore and Pence stood to shake hands with Trump.

This was one of the first public meetings between Trump and Pence since their falling out over the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.

However, Karen Pence, Mike Pence’s wife, remained seated and did not greet Trump, an action that drew attention as the first of several instances of awkwardness during the funeral.

Following the Trumps, former President Barack Obama entered the cathedral. He walked past Trump and Melania without stopping, and the Trumps did not rise to greet him.

Obama instead greeted the former vice presidents, who stood up to welcome him. Notably, Michelle Obama, Barack’s wife, was not present at the funeral as she was reportedly on vacation in Hawaii.

Obama took a seat next to Trump, and while the two appeared to exchange words briefly, they never shook hands. Videos of Obama and Trump talking quickly spread online, with some people arguing that their casual interaction showed Obama didn’t view Trump as a serious threat, as some had previously suggested.

Next to arrive were former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura. Like Obama, the Bushes walked past Trump and Melania without stopping. The Trumps, in turn, remained seated and did not greet the Bushes.

However, Obama stood up to greet George and Laura Bush warmly. Their interaction was polite and friendly, in contrast to the coolness shown between other attendees.

Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton, entered the cathedral from a different side, avoiding direct contact with the Trumps altogether.

However, the Clintons were met with a warm greeting from George Bush, who stood up to welcome them. Surprisingly, both Bill and Hillary Clinton appeared to ignore Bush completely. Hillary, who ended up sitting next to Bush, did not acknowledge him at any point. Bush’s reaction was noticeable—he seemed displeased, pursing his lips in response to the snub.

However, he eventually moved on and began waving and giving “thumbs up” gestures to others in the crowd.

FURTHER READING
Tinubu Returns to Abuja After Holidays and Ghana Visit
2027 Power Play Begins as Elrufai, Atiku Allies Meet SDP Leadership
TechTop Tech Gadgets Nigerians Want in 2025

Throughout the funeral, the seating arrangements and interactions between the leaders became a focal point for observers. Norah O’Donnell, a CBS anchor covering the event live, pointed out these moments on air. She remarked on Bush’s behavior, saying,

“And look how appropriately former President George W. Bush stands to welcome former First Lady Hillary Clinton and President Clinton.” Her co-anchor, Robert Costa, noted that Bush and Trump did not interact at all, saying, “We have not seen President Bush interact with President Trump.” O’Donnell confirmed, “We have not

The state funeral for Jimmy Carter was meant to be a moment of unity and reflection on his life and legacy.

However, the gathering of past and present leaders also highlighted the political and personal divisions that remain among them. The awkward greetings, pointed snubs, and careful avoidance of certain interactions underscored the tensions that have shaped recent years in American politics.

Click Here For Video of The Week