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Trump to Attend Jimmy Carter's Funeral Despite Past Criticism

President-elect Donald Trump announced he will attend the state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter, set for January 9, 2025, at Washington National Cathedral. Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100, will be honored in a ceremony where President Joe Biden is expected to deliver the eulogy.

Trump confirmed his attendance, stating, "I'll be there. We were invited," although he did not disclose whether he had spoken with the Carter family. This comes after years of public tensions between Trump and Carter, including criticisms from Trump during his 2024 campaign, where he referred to Carter as "the worst president" and mocked his legacy.

Despite this history, Trump praised Carter’s service following his passing, recognizing the challenges Carter faced as president and his efforts to improve the lives of Americans. "Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time," Trump wrote in a statement.

In another post, Trump described Carter as a "truly good man," commending his humanitarian work post-presidency. "While I strongly disagreed with him philosophically and politically, I also realized that he truly loved and respected our country, and all it stands for," Trump wrote.

Earlier, Trump had criticized Carter’s political legacy, including his role in the Panama Canal Treaty, calling the U.S. decision to hand over control of the canal a "foolish" move. Trump also often used Carter as a point of comparison to President Biden, claiming Carter’s presidency looked "brilliant" by comparison to Biden’s.

Though Carter had long been critical of Trump, particularly over human rights and his 2016 election win, the two men briefly interacted in 2019 when Trump reached out to Carter to discuss U.S.-China relations. Carter had also sent Trump a letter with diplomatic advice regarding China before their conversation.