President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he plans to attend former President Jimmy Carter's funeral.
President Trump, 78, told reporters ahead of a New Year's Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago mansion that he was invited to the state funeral for the 39th president, scheduled for January 9 in Washington, D.C. spoke.
“I will. I'll be there. We're invited,” Trump said of Carter's funeral plans, with his wife, Melania, by his side.
Wearing a black-tie tuxedo, the president-elect shyly answered when asked if he had spoken to any members of the Carter family.
“I don't want to say it,” he replied.
President Biden, who is scheduled to deliver a eulogy for Carter next week at the Washington National Cathedral, has declared the funeral of the longest-living president a national day of mourning.
The Georgia Democratic Party's funeral comes less than two weeks before President Trump's inauguration.
Carter died Sunday at age 100 at her home in Plains, Georgia, more than a year after entering hospice care.
Trump issued several statements praising Carter on social media in the hours after his death.
“The challenges Jimmy faced as president came at a critical time for our country, and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans,” the president-elect wrote in a post on Truth Social. “For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.”
“Melania and I have our hearts out for the Carter family and their loved ones during this difficult time, and we urge you to keep them in your thoughts and prayers,” he said. added.
In another post, Trump said that while he “strongly disagrees” with Carter “philosophically and politically,” he believed the 39th president “truly loved and respected our country and everything it stands for.” He said that
“He worked hard to make America a better place, and I have the utmost respect for him for that,” Trump added. “He was a really good person and will of course be greatly missed. He was also someone who had far more influence after leaving the Oval Office than most presidents. Melania and My deepest condolences to his wonderful family.”
