President Joe Biden, President-elect Donald Trump, and former presidents reacted to former President Jimmy Carter’s passing at the age of 100.
Carter, who served as U.S. President from 1977 to 1981, died Sunday in his home surrounded by family. He was the longest-lived president followed by President George Herbert Walker Bush who died at 94 in 2018.
Biden said an official state funeral will be held in Washington D.C. for Carter. He issued a statement commemorating Carter as an “extraordinary leader, statesman, and humanitarian who gave his full life in service to God and country.”
“Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well.”
President-elect Donald Trump said that Carter faced challenges “at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.”
Former President Barack Obama said that Carter kept his promise to voters to always “tell the truth” advocating for the public good “consequences be damned.”
“He believed some things were more important than reelection – things like integrity, respect, and compassion.”
Former President George W. Bush praised the late President’s “efforts to leave behind a better world.”
“James Earl Carter Jr. was a man of deeply held convictions. He was loyal to his family, his community, and his country.”
