Trump and Pence shook hands at Carter’s funeral in their first public meeting since leaving office
President-elect Donald Trump and his former Vice President Mike Pence shook hands Thursday at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral in their first public interaction in four years.
Pence was seen standing to shake Trump’s hand as the former president made his way inside Washington, DC National Cathedral for funerals. After the two greeted each other and said a few words, Pence shook hands with former first lady Melania Trump.
Former second lady Karen Pence, who was sitting next to her husband, did not stand up, shake Trump’s hand, or appear to greet him.
Trump and Pence have not been seen publicly together since the two left the White House on acrimonious terms four years ago after they disagreed over the results of the presidential election and what legal recourse Trump had to challenge them.
FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER REMEMBERED AND PRAISED AS A HUMANITARIAN AROUND THE WORLD
Former US Vice President Al Gore (L) looks on as former Vice President Mike Pence (C) shakes hands with President-elect Donald Trump before the state funeral for former US President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC on January 9, 2025 . (Getty Images)
Pence briefly ran unsuccessfully for president against Trump in the 2024 presidential primary — he dropped out in October 2023 — and did not endorse Trump at any point leading up to the November election.
The two have publicly criticized each other over the past few years, including in 2023 when Trump called Pence a “fraud,” and the former vice president said last year that he could not “in good conscience” support Trump.
From left, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Presidents George W. Bush and Laura Bush, former President Barack Obama, President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump, arrive before the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
All five living men who once occupied the White House – the so-called President’s Club – President Biden and former Presidents Clinton, George W. Bush, Obama and Trump was in the same room Thursday for the first time since former President George HW Bush’s 2018 funeral.
Former Vice Presidents Dan Quayle and Al Gore were also in attendance.
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Children watch as the hearse carrying the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter pulls up outside the state Capitol in Atlanta, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. Carter died Dec. 29 at the age of 100. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)
After the funeral, Carter’s remains will be flown by United States Special Air Mission 39 to Georgia for a private ceremony in his hometown of Plains.
Carter, the 39th president, died on December 29 at the age of 100 after being admitted to hospice care in 2023.
