This is the complete eulogy Joe Biden gave at Jimmy Carter’s funeral

The United States has been honoring President Jimmy Carter since he passed away on Dec. 29 at the age of 100, with services taking place from his hometown of Plains, Georgia to the country’s capital.

His body arrived in D.C. on Tuesday, giving politicians and the public a chance to pay their respects as he lay in state.

The state funeral began at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. on the morning of what President Joe Biden declared as a National Day of Mourning for the late president.

READ ALSO: Jimmy Carter’s eldest grandchild to deliver eulogy

After the ceremony, Carter’s body will be brought back to Plains, where a private funeral service will be conducted. He will then be buried beside his wife Rosalynn Carter, who passed away in November 2023 at the age of 96.

READ ALSO: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s big brood

5 presidents attend Carter’s funeral

All living presidents were in attendance at the Washington National Cathedral, as well as several world leaders. President-elect Donald Trump was seated next to former president Barack Obama, in the same row as former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

President Biden delivered a eulogy for the first president he endorsed as a young politician. It’s one of his last public speeches before he steps down as commander-in-chief on Jan. 20.

Biden was one of the first senators to back Carter’s candidacy. He said he gave his support because of the late president’s character.

Here is the president’s eulogy honoring Carter’s legacy.

Members of the clergy, distinguished guests, most importantly, the Carter family.

In April 2021, Jill and I visited Jimmy and Rosalynn on a warm spring day down in Plains, Georgia. We wanted to see them. Rosalynn met us at the front door with her signature smile. Together entered a home that they had shared almost 77 years of marriage, an unassuming red brick ranch home reflects their modesty, more than any champions of power.

We walked in the living room where Jimmy greeted us like family. That day, just the four of us sat in the living room and shared memories that spanned almost six decades.

A deep friendship that started in 1974. I was a 31-year-old senator. And I was the first senator outside of Georgia, and maybe the first senator, to endorse his candidacy for president. With an endorsement based in what I believe is Jimmy Carter’s enduring attribute: character. Character. Character.

Because of that character I believe it is destiny. Destiny, in our lives, and quite frankly, destiny, 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. Life of purpose, life of meaning. Now, how do we find that good life? What does it look like? What does it take to build character? Did the ends justify the means?

Jimmy Carter’s friendship taught me, and through his life taught me, a 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, not a guarantee, which is a shot.

We have an obligation to give hate no safe harbor. And to stand up, to my dad used to say is the greatest sin of all: Abuse of power.

That’s not about being perfect. Because none of us are perfect. We’re all fallible, but it’s about asking ourselves, are we striving to do things, the right things? What value? What are the values that animate our spirit?

To operate from fear or hope. Ego or generosity. Do we show grace? Do we keep the faith when it’s most tested? For keeping the faith with the best of humankind and the best of America is a story in my view, from my perspective, Jimmy Carter’s life.

Story of a man, to state the obvious you’ve heard today from great, great eulogies who came from a house without running water or electricity and rose to the pinnacle of power. The story of a man who was at once driven and devoted to making real the words of his savior and he ideals of this nation. The story of a man who never let the ties and politics divert him from his mission to serve and shape the world. The man had character.

Jimmy held a deep Christian faith in God, that his candidacy spoke and wrote about. Faith as a substance of things hoped for, and evidence of the things not seen.

Faith founded on commandments of scripture: Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and all thy soul. And love thy neighbor as thyself. Easy to say—very, very difficult to do. In his life, in this life, any walk of faith can be difficult. It can be lonely. But it requires action to be the doers of the world.

But that commandment, lies the essence of my view, found in the Gospel, found in many faith traditions and found the very idea of America. Because the very journey of our nation is a walk of sheer faith. To do the work, to be the country we say we are, be the country say we want to be.

A nation where all are created equal in the image of God and deserved to be treated equally throughout our lives. You’ve never fully lived up to that idea of America. We’ve never walked away from it, either, because the patriots like Jimmy Carter.

Throughout his life, he showed us what it means to be practitioner of good works, a good and faithful servant of God and of the people. Today, many think he was from a bygone era. But in reality, he saw well into the future. A white Southern Baptist who led civil rights. A decorated Navy veteran who brokered peace. A brilliant nuclear engineer who led a nuclear nonproliferation. A hardworking farmer.who championed conservation and clean energy. The president, who redefined relationship with the vice president. Jimmy and I often talked about our dear friend Walter Mondale, we all miss very much. Together they formed a model partnership, collaboration and trust—both were men of character.

And as you all know, Jimmy Carter also established a model of post-presidency by making a powerful difference as a private citizen in America, and I might add, as you all know, around the world.

Through it all, he showed us how character and faith: Start with ourselves and then flows to others. At our best, we share the better parts of ourselves: joy, solidarity, love, commitment. Not for reward, but in reverence, to the incredible gift of life we’ve all been granted. To make every minute of our time here on Earth count. That’s the definition of a good life. The life Jimmy Carter lived—greatest 100 years.

To young people, to anyone, in search of meaning and purpose, study the power of Jimmy Carter’s example. I miss him, but I take solace in knowing that he and his beloved Rosalynn are reunited again.

To the entire Carter family, Thank you. I mean this sincerely for sharing them both with America and the world. We love you all.

Jill and I will cherish our visits with them, including that last one in their home. We saw Jimmy as he always was, at peace the life fully lived. A good life with purpose and meaning, character. Driven by destiny. And filled with the power of faith, hope and love. Say it again: faith, hope and love.

As he returned to Plains, Georgia, for his final resting place. You can say goodbye. In the words of the Prophet Micah, who Jimmy so admired until his final breath, Jimmy Carter, did justly, loved mercy, walked humbly. May God bless a great American, a dear friend and a good man. May he rise up, be raised up on eagles' wings, and buried on the breath of dawn. Make it to shine like the sun. And hold you in the palm of his hand.

God bless you, Jimmy Carter.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.