Will the Obamas attend Jimmy Carter’s funeral in Washington DC?

The United States is mourning the death of former President Jimmy Carter who passed on December 29 at the age of 100. He was brought to Washington DC on Tuesday where his body will lie in state at the US Capitol Rotunda for the public to pay their respects until 7 am on Thursday, January 9. That day, a state funeral will be held at the Washington National Cathedral where politicians from both sides of the aisle will come together to attend the memorial.

Likewise, all five living presidents, Bill Clinton, George W Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden will be in attendance. It will be the first time since George HW Bush’s funeral in December 2018 that all the members of the presidents club will be gathered in the same place face-to-face.

Will the former presidents’ spouses attend Carter’s state funeral?

While all the living US presidents have said they will attend, they have not officially confirmed that their spouses will as well. However, it can be expected that they will as they have joined their husbands for previous state funerals even changing their schedules in order to do so. For example, Michelle Obama delayed scheduled appearances overseas for her book tour in 2018 in order to attend George HW Bush’s funeral in Washington DC.

In his own confirmation that he would attend, Trump said that “we were invited,” but only said that “I’ll be there,” leaving doubt about whether Melania Trump will be at his side. In his statement praising Carter the president-elect also wrote: “Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers.”

The eulogy at the ceremony will be given by President Biden, who he has called a “beloved friend,” whom Carter had asked to do the honor last year. Other eulogies will be offered Steven Ford, son of Carter’s predecessor, Gerald Ford, who died in 2006, and Ted Mondale, son of Walter Mondale, Carter’s vice-president, who died in 2021.

The ceremony, while not open to the general public, can be watched live online via livestream on the Cathedral’s YouTube channel. It is scheduled to begin at 10 am ET, Thursday, January 9.

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