Donald Trump and Barack Obama were seen chuckling about a joke at President Jimmy Carter’s funeral.

The service was attended by all five living current and former US presidents, with President Joe Biden, Bill Clinton and George W Bush also in attendance.


Trump, who will return to the White House on January 20, sat next to Obama, with whom he seemed to share a joke and laughed as introductory music played.

To Obama’s right were Laura and George W. Bush and Hillary and Bill Clinton. President Biden and first lady Jill Biden walked hand in hand and took seats in the first row next to Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff.

u200bUS President-elect Donald Trump speaks with former President Barack Obam

US President-elect Donald Trump speaks with former President Barack Obama at the funeral service for Jimmy Carter

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u200bObama and Trump at the funeral service

Obama and Trump at the funeral service

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The pair sat with other former Presidents

The pair sat with other former Presidents

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Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Vice President-elect JD Vance and Biden’s son Hunter were also among the mourners. Former vice presidents Al Gore and Mike Pence sat side by side. Former first lady Michelle Obama was not at the funeral.

At one point, Vice President Kamala Harris, seated in the row in front of Obama and Trump, turned back to look at their conversation, then turned round to the front and let out a long sigh.

Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29, served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. His body will be returned to Georgia, where the Democrat was raised as a peanut farmer.

Paying tribute at the service, his grandson Joshua said: “My grandfather spent the entire time I’ve known him helping those in need. He built houses for people who needed homes. He eliminated diseases in forgotten places, he waged peace anywhere in the world, wherever he saw a chance…he loved people.”

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u200bUS President Joe Biden touches the casket of former US President Jimmy Carter

US President Joe Biden touches the casket of former US President Jimmy Carter

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Obama and Trump

President-elect Donald Trump speaks with former President Barack Obama

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u200bThe remains of former US President Jimmy Carter are carried out of Washington

The remains of former US President Jimmy Carter are carried out of Washington

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Delivering a eulogy, President Biden said: “Character, I believe, is destiny. Destiny in our lives, and, quite frankly, destiny in the life of the nation. It’s an accumulation of a million things built on character that leads to a good life in a decent country.

“Jimmy Carter’s friendship taught me, and through his life, taught me, that strength of character is more than title or the power we hold. It’s the strength to understand that everyone should be treated with dignity, respect, that everyone, and I mean everyone, deserves an even shot.

“Many think he was from a bygone era, but in reality, he saw a well into the future.

“A white southern Baptist who led on civil rights, a decorated navy veteran who brokered peace, a brilliant nuclear engineer who led on nuclear nonproliferation, a hard-working farmer who championed conservation and clean energy, the president who redefined the relationship with the Vice-President.”

Jimmy Carter

Former president Jimmy Carter died in December

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Queen Elizabeth and Jimmy CarterQueen Elizabeth and Jimmy Carter photographed together in 1977PA

Tens of thousands of Americans over the past two days filed through the Rotunda of the US Capitol to pay their respects to Carter.

Some said they admired the late Southern Baptist who played a key role in the negotiation of the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty as a gentle man, rather than a partisan combatant.

Dorian DeHaan, 67, who travelled some 275 miles (440 km) from Sugar Loaf, New York, to pay her respects, told reporters: “We’ve come so far from where Jimmy Carter was as a person and it’s kinda sad.

“I hope that this will be a reminder to people of what we need to get back to — that it’s not about the power, it’s about the people.”