On January 4th, 2025, former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral was held at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The ceremony brought together all five living former U.S. presidents, a rare and historic event. However, what caught everyone’s attention was how former President George W. Bush ignored Donald and Melania Trump, while warmly greeting others, especially Barack Obama.
The day began with Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, arriving first. As they entered the cathedral, they stopped to shake hands with former Vice Presidents Al Gore and Mike Pence. Pence greeted Trump politely, even though they had a major fallout after the January 6th Capitol attack. However, Pence’s wife, Karen, stayed seated and did not greet Trump. This small act set the tone for a series of awkward moments throughout the funeral.
Next, former President Barack Obama arrived. He walked right past Trump and Melania without any interaction. Instead, he warmly greeted the former vice presidents, who stood up to shake his hand. Obama then sat down next to Trump. While the two exchanged a few words, they did not shake hands or show any sign of friendliness. The moment seemed cold and distant, which many people noticed.
Then came George W. Bush and his wife, Laura. As they entered, they also walked past Trump and Melania, who remained seated. Bush didn’t acknowledge the Trumps but stopped to greet Barack Obama. In a friendly and warm gesture, Bush gave Obama a light tap on the stomach, showing genuine camaraderie. This moment highlighted the stark difference in how Bush treated Obama compared to Trump.
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CBS reporter Norah O’Donnell, who covered the funeral live, commented on the scene. She said, “President George W. Bush did not shake Trump’s hand.” She added, “And look how appropriately former President George W. Bush stands to welcome former First Lady Hillary Clinton and President Clinton.” Her co-anchor, Robert Costa, remarked, “We have not seen President Bush interact with President Trump.” O’Donnell agreed, saying, “We have not.”
Shortly after, Bill and Hillary Clinton arrived from another entrance. This allowed them to avoid any interaction with the Trumps. Bush, however, stood to greet the Clintons. Interestingly, Hillary, who later sat next to Bush, did not acknowledge him. Bill Clinton also kept his distance, creating another awkward moment.
These interactions showed the clear divisions between Trump and the other former presidents. George W. Bush has been openly critical of Trump in the past. He has condemned the direction of the Republican Party under Trump, calling it “protectionist, isolationist, and nativist.” His actions at the funeral seemed to reflect his disapproval of Trump’s leadership.
Since leaving office, Bush has spoken about the importance of unity and kindness in politics. By ignoring Trump, Bush may have been making a silent statement about the type of leadership he values.
The funeral was meant to honor Jimmy Carter, one of the most admired presidents in U.S. history. However, the interactions between the attendees became a big topic of conversation. While the event was supposed to bring people together, it highlighted the deep divisions in U.S. politics.
Featured image via Screengrab
