Against the biting cold of a Washington, D.C., winter, dignitaries and loved ones gathered at Washington National Cathedral on Thursday morning to honor former President Jimmy Carter. The 39th president, who died December 29 at 100, was remembered for his humility, integrity, and unwavering commitment to human rights.
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Related:President Jimmy Carter dead at 100 — here’s his history as an LGBTQ+ ally
The world’s press, tucked into the cathedral’s south balcony with a sweeping view of the structure's grandiose architecture, overlooked a tableau of power and history. Below sat five presidents — Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton — most alongside their spouses, though Obama arrived solo. Supreme Court justices and global leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.N. Secretary General António Guterres, also filled the space.
The day began at the U.S. Capitol, where Carter’s body had lain in state. A motorcade carried his casket through the city, pausing at the White House before arriving at the cathedral for a ceremony steeped in tradition. As “Hail to the Chief” played faintly outside, Carter’s casket was carried into the cathedral to the tolling of bells and the strains of hymns including “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”
Inside, the wind that battered the cathedral walls was audible, a constant reminder of the brutal weather outside. Military honor guards stood at attention as the U.S. Marine Orchestra and Armed Forces Chorus performed. Musical selections included “Be Still, My Soul” and a poignant rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine”by country music icons Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, a nod to Carter’s global vision for peace.
Grandson Jason Carter touches the casket of former US President Jimmy Carter during a state funeral services at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC on January 9, 2025.ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images
Standing at the pulpit under the cathedral’s soaring nave, Biden spoke with emotion as he eulogized Carter. “Character, character, character,” Biden said, pausing to let the weight of the word settle over the audience. “Jimmy Carter showed us what it means to be a good and faithful servant — not just to God, but to the people.”
But it was Carter’s grandson, Jason, who illuminated the man behind the legend. His eulogy, filled with humor and love, painted Carter as a grandfather whose humanity was as profound as his accomplishments. Jason shared a story that had the audience laughing:
“When PawPaw called me one day, my phone said, ‘PawPaw mobile,’” Jason began. “‘I answered, 'Hey, PawPaw.' He said, 'Who’s this?' I said, 'This is Jason.' He said, 'What are you doing?' I said, 'I’m not doing anything — you called me!' He said, 'I didn’t call you. I’m taking a picture.'”
The moment’s warmth swept through the cathedral, though President-elect Trump, seated stoically next to Obama, appeared to remain unmoved.
Jason also cast his grandfather as a man ahead of his time, quipping, “In a lot of ways, he may have been the first millennial.” He elaborated, “He cut the deficit, wanted to decriminalize marijuana, deregulated so many industries that he gave us cheap flights and craft beer, and basically made great playlists.”
Yet humor gave way to reverence as Jason concluded, “He eradicated a disease with love and respect. He waged peace with love and respect. And he led this nation with love and respect.”
From left: Former Vice Presidents Al Gore and Mike Pence, Karen Pence, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former U.S. President George W. Bush, Laura Bush, former President Barack Obama, President-elect Donald Trump, Melania Trump, President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff react during the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Though his presidency predated much of the modernLGBTQ+ rights movement, Carter’s legacy as an advocate for equality grew in his later years. In 1977, his administration became the first to host gay activists at the White House, addressing issues like workplace discrimination andhealth care inequities.
By 2015, Carter had become an outspoken supporter ofmarriage equality, famously saying, “I believe Jesus would approve gay marriage.” He left the Southern Baptist Convention “on over its rigid stance on LGBTQ+ issues,” among others. In 2007, Carter called for an end to “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
The service brought together political adversaries. Biden sat in the front row with First Lady Jill Biden, Vice PresidentKamala Harris, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. Behind them, Trump, Obama, Bush, and Clinton shared moments of quiet civility. Before the service, Trump and Obama were even seen in a surprisingly cordial conversation. Former Vice Presidents Mike Pence, Al Gore, and Dan Quayle sat in the row behind the former presidents. Pence and Trump shared a brief handshake.
Vice President-elect JD Vance and his wife sat in a different section of the cathedral near Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Notably absent was Michelle Obama, who cited scheduling conflicts during her vacation in Hawaii. Supreme Court justices, including Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sonia Sotomayor, Chief Justice John Roberts, Samuel Alito, and Amy Coney Barrett, were also present, alongside a bipartisan group of senators including Bernie Sanders, John Thune, Amy Klobuchar, John Barrasso, and Raphael Warnock.
Following the Washington service, Carter’s body was driven to Joint Base Andrews and flown to Georgia. A 21-gun salute greeted the motorcade at Lawson Army Airfield before the late president was carried to Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains for a private service.
“For us, he’ll always be in the kitchen making pancakes or standing in a trout stream,” Jason Carter said. “His spirit will live on.”
