By Amanda Castro
Associate News Editor
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Former President Jimmy Carter's national funeral service took place today at Washington National Cathedral, following two days of tributes in the Capitol Rotunda.
What to know:
- Carter's casket was transported from the U.S. Capitol to Washington National Cathedral on Thursday morning.
- The invitation-only service will begin at 10 a.m. ET, with President Joe Biden delivering a eulogy.
- Former President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump are in attendance. The two were seen talking before the service began.
- After the service, Carter was returned to Plains, Georgia for a private burial alongside his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023.
- Carter died on December 29, was the longest-living U.S. president at 100, and a champion of human rights.
- Biden declared January 9 as a national day of mourning for Carter.
This live blog is now closed.
Jan 09, 2025 at 12:29 PM EST
Trump and Pence shake hands for first time since January 6
President-elect Donald Trump shook hands with his former vice president, Mike Pence, at former President Jimmy Carter's funeral on Thursday.
Pence and Trump broke their previously close connection when the former vice president did not overturn the 2020 presidential election results while overseeing Congress' certification of Joe Biden's win on January 6, 2021. A group of Trump supporters breached the U.S. Capitol while Pence and other lawmakers were inside, which Pence said "endangered" his family and others.
Pence said last March that he could not "in good conscience" endorse Trump for the 2024 presidential election. He told Fox News that Trump is "pursuing and articulating an agenda that is at odds with the conservative agenda that we governed on during our four years." Trump said that "people in politics can be very disloyal."
Newsweek reached out to Trump's transition team via email for comment.
Read the full story by Monica Sager on Newsweek.
Jan 09, 2025 at 12:11 PM EST
Casket now being carried out
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The service is now drawing to a close.
Attendees have risen to watch Carter's casket be carried out of the cathedral, followed by his family to depart for Joint Base Andrews at 11:15 a.m.
Together they will board Special Air Mission 39 and will arrive at Lawson Army Airfield at Fort Moore, Georgia. Carter's family will then be taken by motorcade to Plains.
There, an invitation-only funeral will take place at Maranatha Baptist Church, a congregation Carter himself taught Sunday school at for decades.
Jan 09, 2025 at 12:06 PM EST
Prayers led by bishop and Carter’s personal pastor at memorial service
The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, and the Rev. Anthony Lowden, President Carter's personal pastor, are leading the prayers at the memorial service.
Jan 09, 2025 at 11:59 AM EST
Rendition of ‘Imagine’ by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks are now performing an acoustic rendition of "Imagine" by John Lennon.
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Jan 09, 2025 at 11:56 AM EST
Rev. Andrew Young delivers homily at Carter’s service, reflects on his rise to the presidency
The Rev. Andrew Young, the civil rights icon and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President Carter, delivered the homily at Carter's service.
Speaking from a chair, Young recalled his first meeting with Carter, marveling at how someone from humble beginnings in Plains, Georgia, could rise to the presidency, calling it "something of a miracle" that still baffles him.
He finished his speech by thanking former President Carter.
Jan 09, 2025 at 11:49 AM EST
James Carter gives reading
Another grandson of Carter, James Carter, has just finished giving a reading from Gospel, Matthew 5:1-16.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me," he read. "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Jan 09, 2025 at 11:44 AM EST
‘The man had character’: Joe Biden describes Carter
President Joe Biden delivered a heartfelt tribute to former President Jimmy Carter, emphasizing one key aspect of his life and legacy: character. Speaking with emotion, Biden described how Carter taught him that true strength of character transcends titles and power, embodying the belief that all people deserve dignity, respect, and an equal chance.
Biden reflected on Carter's humble beginnings, growing up in a home without running water or electricity, and his extraordinary rise to the highest office in the land. "The man had character," Biden remarked. He also noted Carter's deep Christian faith, which he consistently expressed throughout his life and political career.
Biden added that faith, while often a solitary path, requires action—becoming "doers of the world," just as Carter had demonstrated through his work.
Jan 09, 2025 at 11:38 AM EST
President Biden delivers tribute at Carter’s National Funeral Service
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President Joe Biden is set to deliver a tribute at the National Funeral Service for former President Jimmy Carter. While many of the politicians present were not in office during Carter's presidency, Biden has a personal connection to Carter's political journey.
As the first Democratic senator to endorse Carter's 1976 bid for the presidency, Biden has long been an ally and admirer of Carter, a bond that will be highlighted during his tribute.
Jan 09, 2025 at 11:25 AM EST
Jason James Carter: Georgia politician and grandson of Jimmy Carter
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Jason Carter, an American lawyer and politician from Georgia, has made a name for himself in state politics outside of being his grandfather's grandson.
Serving in the Georgia State Senate from 2010 to 2015, Carter was a prominent figure in the state's legislative landscape. In 2014, he ran as the Democratic Party nominee for governor of Georgia, although he was not victorious in that race.
Carter is the grandson of former U.S. President and Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter, carrying on the family's political legacy, and speaking today at his grandfather's funeral.
Jan 09, 2025 at 11:21 AM EST
Carter’s longtime confidant says Carter is closest a president has come to a ‘Renaissance man’
Ex-Carter aide Stuart Eizenstat described the former president as "as close to being a Renaissance man as any president entering the Oval Office in modern times."
"He was skilled in an astonishing array of activities: farmer, businessman, nuclear engineer, naval submarine officer, woodworker, painter, fly fisherman, music lover, poet, author, Sunday school teacher, creator of the Carter Center and yes, loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and Nobel Peace Prize winner," he said at the funeral.
He added he wanted to debunk the "myth" that Carter's greatest achievement was being a former president.
"The test of American presidents is not the number of years they serve, but the duration of their accomplishments. By this measure, Jimmy Carter was among the most consequential one-term presidents in history."
Jan 09, 2025 at 11:16 AM EST
Jason Carter now speaking
Another one of Jimmy Carter's grandsons, Jason Carter, is now speaking.
He started by thanking those and attendance, and continued sharing lighthearted stories about Carter.
Jan 09, 2025 at 11:14 AM EST
Prince William missed key ‘opportunity’ by skipping Jimmy Carter funeral
Prince William's decision to swerve Jimmy Carter's funeral means he has turned his back on a major "global stage," a royal author told Newsweek.
The Prince of Wales spent Thursday marking Princess Kate's 43rd birthday, paying a heartfelt tribute to her "strength" in a post on X.
Prince Edward—who is 14th in the line of succession—flew to America to pay the royal family's respects to Carter in D.C., where he has been lying in state at the Capitol building.
Ingrid Seward, author of the bestselling book My Mother and I, about King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II, told Newsweek: "Of course Americans would have preferred William but on the other hand I think Edward was 13 when Jimmy Carter was president. It's possible that Edward did meet him.
Read the full story by Jack Royston on Newsweek.
Jan 09, 2025 at 11:14 AM EST
Mondale: He and Carter became friends ‘working on real problems, not wasting time’
In the letter, written in 2015 before his death in 2021, Walter Mondale described being "surprised" then-candidate Carter had asked him to join him as his running mate.
"He amazed me then as he has every year since,' he continued in the letter, read by by his son today. "He of course was brilliant, he also had a great sense of humor. And while we had only four years in the White House, he achieved so much in that time. It stood as a marker for Americans dedicated to justice and decency."
Mondale wrote that he and Carter became close friends while "working on real problems, not wasting time."
Jan 09, 2025 at 11:07 AM EST
Carter’s domestic policy adviser and longtime confidant speaks at funeral
Stuart Eizenstat, Jimmy Carter's domestic policy adviser in the White House, is speaking at his funeral.
Eizenstat, Carter's longtime confidant, was also the former president's biographer.
Jan 09, 2025 at 10:51 AM EST
Ted Mondale reads eulogy written by his father for Jimmy Carter
Ted Mondale, the eldest son of the late Vice President Walter Mondale, is currently delivering a eulogy written by his father.
Walter Mondale, who served as Vice President alongside Jimmy Carter for four years, died in 2021. The eulogy honors their deep partnership and shared legacy.
Ted said that his father had "clearly" edited his eulogy before his death before proceeding to read it.
Jan 09, 2025 at 10:47 AM EST
View from above
See the view from above at the Washington National Cathedral during Jimmy Carter's funeral.
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Jan 09, 2025 at 10:38 AM EST
WATCH: Trump and Mike Pence shake hands
Watch the moment former Vice President Mike Pence and President-elect Donald Trump meet again at the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter.
The two shook hands upon seeing each other.
Jan 09, 2025 at 10:36 AM EST
Steven Ford reads tribute from father at Carter’s funeral
Steven Ford, the third son of former President Gerald Ford, is reading a tribute at the funeral of President Jimmy Carter, which was written by his father before passing away in 2006. Despite their fierce rivalry during the 1976 election, Ford and Carter developed a close friendship later in life.
They made a mutual promise to speak at each other's funerals, a pact that is being honored today with Ford's heartfelt words about his former political opponent-turned-friend.
Steven is currently reading the eulogy Gerald Ford left.
Jan 09, 2025 at 10:30 AM EST
Michelle Obama not attending Carter’s National Funeral Service
Former First Lady Michelle Obama will not be attending President Jimmy Carter's National Funeral Service, a spokeswoman confirmed. In a statement, per The New York Times, she expressed her thoughts and prayers for the Carter family and those who admired the former president.
According to a source familiar with the situation, Obama is in Hawaii and had a scheduling conflict that prevented her from attending the service.
Jan 09, 2025 at 10:28 AM EST
Jimmy Carter’s grandson now speaking
The grandson of Jimmy Carter, Joshua Carter, is now speaking.
Jan 09, 2025 at 10:25 AM EST
IN PICTURES: Carter inside cathedral
Here is a look at the process of moving Carter's casket into the cathedral.
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Jan 09, 2025 at 10:16 AM EST
Carter is being moved into the cathedral
Attendees stood as President Jimmy Carter's body was moved into the Washington National Cathedral.
Jan 09, 2025 at 10:14 AM EST
Before the funeral
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Ahead of the funeral, a driver was captured polishing the outside of a hearse.
It bore the presidential seal.
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Jan 09, 2025 at 10:07 AM EST
Military members unload Jimmy Carter’s casket
Members of the military have unloaded former President Jimmy Carter's casket from a hearse outside the Washington National Cathedral ahead of his funeral service.
Jan 09, 2025 at 10:03 AM EST
The Bidens take their seats
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden have arrived.
The two have taken their place beside Harris and Emhoff.
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Jan 09, 2025 at 10:00 AM EST
Harris arrives with Doug Emhoff
Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff have arrived and are seated in front of Donald Trump and Melania.
This is the first time since the election that Trump and Harris are in the same room together.
Jan 09, 2025 at 09:56 AM EST
The Clintons have arrived
Former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton have arrived and have been seated beside former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura, who are sitting next to Obama and the Trumps.
Jan 09, 2025 at 09:55 AM EST
Trump and Obama seated next to each other
President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania have arrived at the National Cathedral ad have been seated beside former President Barack Obama.
The two appeared to have been in conversation.
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Jan 09, 2025 at 09:54 AM EST
Congressional leaders arrive at Washington National Cathedral
At the Washington National Cathedral, Senator John Thune, the majority leader, was seated next to Speaker Mike Johnson. Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader, soon arrived, completing the congressional leadership.
Speaker Johnson greeted JD Vance, who was seated with his wife Usha in the congressional section, as he is still a senator. Senator Chuck Schumer, the minority leader, also arrived and exchanged a handshake with Vance.
Jan 09, 2025 at 09:46 AM EST
Kamala Harris to attend funeral
Vice President Kamala Harris shared a tweet this morning about attending Cater's funeral.
"President Jimmy Carter was a gifted man who walked with humility, modesty, and grace," she wrote."On Tuesday, I had the honor of delivering a eulogy at his Lying in State Ceremony.
Today, we will gather at the National Cathedral to reflect on President Carter's life of service to our nation and the world."
Jan 09, 2025 at 09:37 AM EST
Guests prepare for Carter’s arrival at National Cathedral
Guests at the Washington National Cathedral have been asked to take their seats ahead of the arrival of former President Jimmy Carter's coffin, according to The New York Times.
The ceremony at the historic cathedral is the culmination of a series of tributes, including Carter lying in state at the U.S. Capitol earlier this week.
Jan 09, 2025 at 09:25 AM EST
USPS closed in honor of Carter
The U.S. Postal Service will be closed today in honor of Jimmy Carter.
It added in an announcement that services will continue on Friday.
Jan 09, 2025 at 09:14 AM EST
WATCH: President Carter’s casket departs U.S. Capitol with 21-gun salute
Moments ago, former President Jimmy Carter's casket was escorted from the U.S. Capitol during a 21-gun salute.
Jan 09, 2025 at 09:08 AM EST
Military honor guard carries President Carter’s coffin as thousands pay respects
Former President Jimmy Carter's coffin was carried out of the Capitol Rotunda by a military honor guard, descending the East steps in a solemn procession. The moment marked the end of his time lying in state, where thousands of mourners came to pay their respects.
Jan 09, 2025 at 08:54 AM EST
Executive order closes federal government agencies on January 9, 2025, in honor of Carter
On December 30, 2024, President Joe Biden signed an executive order closing all executive departments and agencies of the federal government on January 9, 2025, in honor of former President Jimmy Carter. This day of closure will serve as a mark of respect for Carter, the 39th President of the United States, who passed away recently.
The order provides exceptions, allowing certain offices and installations to remain open if deemed necessary for national security, defense, or other critical public needs. The day will also be considered under Executive Order 11582 of 1971 and relevant statutes regarding employee pay and leave.
The Office of Personnel Management has been tasked with ensuring the order's implementation. However, the executive order does not alter the authority of individual agencies or departments, nor does it create enforceable rights or benefits.
Jan 09, 2025 at 08:36 AM EST
Flags to fly at half-staff in memory of Jimmy Carter during Trump’s inauguration
In honor of former President Jimmy Carter, American flags will be flown at half-staff at all U.S. federal buildings following his death on December 29 at the age of 100. This gesture, in line with the U.S. flag code, will continue for 30 days at federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels nationwide. The tradition is observed after the death of a U.S. president or former president.
The flags will remain at half-staff until January 28, 2025. Trump's inauguration on January 20, coinciding with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, will also see flags at half-staff as part of this period of mourning.
In his tribute, Trump acknowledged Carter's leadership, noting his efforts to improve life for Americans during his presidency. He expressed condolences, urging people to keep the Carter family in their thoughts and prayers.
Jan 09, 2025 at 08:21 AM EST
Mondale’s eulogy for Carter recalls their close partnership and lasting impact on U.S. history
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Walter F. Mondale, who passed away in 2021, left behind a deeply personal tribute to former President Jimmy Carter. His eulogy, which will be read at Carter's memorial service on January 9, speaks to the profound impact Carter had on human rights, environmental policy, and gender equality in government.
In his tribute, Mondale fondly recalls the partnership they shared during office. Despite their differing backgrounds—Mondale, a northern liberal, and Carter, a southern moderate—the two forged a close and effective alliance. Mondale had initially been hesitant when Carter asked him to be his running mate in 1976, but he set conditions: he wanted to contribute meaningfully without embarrassment. Carter respected these conditions, and their working relationship grew stronger. Mondale became the most empowered vice president up to that point, an essential partner in the White House.
Mondale's tribute also speaks to the friendship that developed between the two men. He noted that their relationship was built on shared values of small-town upbringing and Christian faith. Unlike many vice presidents who faced frustration and marginalization, Mondale felt fully included in decision-making processes. "We often spent hours together throughout the day," Mondale wrote, reflecting on their shared commitment to solving real problems, not wasting time. Through their close bond, Mondale and Carter created a new model for the vice presidency, one that has influenced future administrations from both parties.
Jan 09, 2025 at 08:16 AM EST
MY TURN: I’m New York’s inspector general. Jimmy Carter’s words guide my work
On today's National Day of Mourning for former President Jimmy Carter, I am reminded that he signed the landmark 1978 Inspector General's Act, creating the modern Offices of the Inspector General (OIG) within the federal government. President Carter considered IGs "perhaps the most important new tools in the fight against fraud."
Both the kid in me—for whom fairness was a bedrock principle—and, decades later, the New York State IG in me—for whom fairness continues to be a bedrock principle—could not agree more with the importance of watchdog agencies that ensure integrity in government.
Our government has at its disposal incredible resources generated by the prosperity of our country. These resources help us build strong and complex systems that serve us all, including the most vulnerable among us, but that kind of power means that our government must work hard continually to earn and keep the public trust. Inspectors General are vital to that process.
When I was four years old, as a kid in downtown Manhattan, my mom taught as an assistant teacher at nearby PS 3. One day when her childcare fell through, I went with her to her school and was set up with my doll and crayons to entertain myself in the back of the classroom.
Even now, 40 years later, I can picture a little boy in the classroom who immediately fell asleep at his desk, his head resting in the crook of his arm. The primary classroom teacher said and did nothing about this sleeping child and conducted the lesson, gently awakening him when class was over to dismiss him with the rest of the class.
Once the students were all gone, I overheard my mom ask the primary teacher why she had let him sleep through class, against the rules. The teacher replied: "On the days when he falls asleep, I just let him sleep, because I don't know what the night before might have been like for him."
I was stunned—struck by the injustice of a kid in my own neighborhood whose nights were such that he had to sleep during school.
Read the full piece by 11th Inspector General of New York Lucy Lang on Newsweek.
Jan 09, 2025 at 08:02 AM EST
Joe Biden will deliver a eulogy today
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President Joe Biden is set to deliver a eulogy today at Jimmy Carter's funeral at the Washington National Cathedral.
All former presidents are expected to be in attendance today, including President-elect Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama.
Jan 09, 2025 at 07:45 AM EST
Carter honored with final journey through Georgia
Jimmy Carter was moved to Plains, Georgia, where he was born and raised, before continuing to Atlanta and the Carter Center. From there, his body was taken to the U.S. Capitol where he lay in state.
Carter will be buried with his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023.
Jan 09, 2025 at 07:31 AM EST
Eric Adams shares statement about Carter
New York City Mayor Eric Adams shared a statement via X, honoring Jimmy Carter.
"I, and Americans across our country, thank him for his dedication to serving others and for working tirelessly to better our nation," he wrote in part about the former president.
Jan 09, 2025 at 07:30 AM EST
NYSE and Nasdaq to close for National Day of Mourning for Jimmy Carter
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The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will shut down on January 9 to honor the life and legacy of former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at age 100.
This closure, in line with the tradition following the death of US presidents, coincides with Carter's state funeral in Washington, D.C. The market closure follows the earlier example set in 2018 for George H. W. Bush's passing.
Both exchanges paid tribute with a moment of silence on Monday, and fixed-income markets will close early on January 9.
Jan 09, 2025 at 07:28 AM EST
Today is declared a national day of mourning
President Joe Biden declared today a national day of mourning in honor of former President Jimmy Carter's death.
It is a day that is meant to honor and pay tribute to someone such as a U.S. president who died.
Today's national day of mourning takes place on the same day as Carter's funeral.
Jan 09, 2025 at 07:18 AM EST
Jimmy Carter’s funeral schedule revealed
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The schedule of today's events begins early in Washington:
- At 9 a.m., Carter's casket will depart the U.S. Capitol, where it has been lying in state.
- A motorcade will escort his remains to the Washington National Cathedral, arriving at 9:30 a.m., with the funeral service set to begin at 10 a.m. This service will feature tributes from President Biden and other dignitaries.
- Carter's remains and his family will depart the cathedral for Joint Base Andrews at 11:15 a.m. Together they will board Special Air Mission 39 at 11:45 a.m.
- By mid-afternoon (2 p.m.), Special Air Mission 39 will arrive at Lawson Army Airfield at Fort Moore, Georgia. Carter's family will then be taken by motorcade to Plains.
- There, an invitation-only funeral will take place at Maranatha Baptist Church at 3.45 p.m., a congregation Carter himself taught Sunday school at for decades.
- At 5:20 p.m., a U.S. Navy flyover will honor Carter's military service as a Naval Academy graduate and his time as commander-in-chief.
- The day will conclude with a private graveside service.
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