Janice R. Andrews
Vice President Kamala Harris shared a photo from former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral that has drawn significant attention online for its noticeable omission. The image, posted to her social media accounts, features Harris standing alongside President Joe Biden and former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. However, President-elect Donald Trump, who attended the funeral, is absent from the post.
The memorial service, held on January 9 at the Washington National Cathedral, marked a national day of mourning declared by President Biden to honor Carter’s legacy. Trump, seated near Barack and Michelle Obama, attended with incoming first lady Melania Trump. Despite their presence, neither appeared in Harris’ photo.
In the post, Harris wrote, “President Jimmy Carter loved our country. He lived his faith, served the people, and left the world better than he found it. President Carter’s many contributions will echo for generations to come.” While the caption celebrated Carter’s impact, followers were quick to highlight the exclusion.
One user commented, “Best photo crop of the decade,” while another remarked, “I immediately laughed when I saw this image. I love a good cropped photo.” Some questioned whether the omission was deliberate, considering the recent tensions from the 2024 presidential election between Biden and Trump.
Adding to the speculation, the Carter Center also shared photos from the funeral on X (formerly Twitter), which similarly left out the Trumps. As of now, representatives for Harris, Trump, and the Carter Center have not responded to requests for comment.
High-Profile Attendees at Carter’s Funeral
Jimmy Carter’s funeral, following his passing on December 29 at age 100, brought together a distinguished group of political leaders, including all five living U.S. presidents and several vice presidents and first ladies:
- President Joe Biden
- President-elect Donald Trump
- Former President Barack Obama
- Former President George W. Bush
- Former President Bill Clinton
- Vice President Kamala Harris
- Vice President-elect JD Vance
- Former Vice President Mike Pence
- Former Vice President Dan Quayle
- Former Vice President Al Gore
- Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
- First lady Jill Biden
- Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff
- Incoming first lady Melania Trump
- Former first lady Laura Bush
Michelle Obama was notably absent, with no explanation provided by her office.
As the online discussion around Harris’ post continues, many reflect on President Carter’s enduring contributions as a leader who embodied faith, service, and humanity.
