Closing summary
Joe Biden and the four living ex-presidents, Donald Trump among them, met at the National Cathedral in Washington for Jimmy Carter’s memorial service, the first time such a gathering had occurred since George HW Bush’s funeral in 2018. The president delivered a eulogy for Carter, in which he hailed Carter’s character, which he called his “enduring tribute”. So, too, did Carter family members, and the sons of his vice-president Walter Mondale and Gerald Ford, the Republican president Carter defeated in 1976. Carter’s casket is now on its way to his home town of Plains, Georgia, where he will be buried at his home after a private funeral for family later on Thursday.
Here’s what else has happened today so far:
Trump sat next to Barack Obama, the president who he leveled racist attacks against as he built his political profile. Nonetheless, the two seemed friendly.
Michelle Obama could not attend the memorial because of a scheduling conflict, Politico reported.
Foreign dignitaries including UN secretary general António Guterres, former UK prime minister Gordon Brown and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau attended Carter’s memorial.
The supreme court will on Friday hear arguments over a law that will force TikTok’s Chinese owner to sell its business in the US, or face a ban. Meanwhile, the justices have yet to act on Trump’s request to pause his sentencing in the New York hush money case, which is also scheduled for tomorrow.
Biden canceled a planned trip to Italy and Vatican City so he could direct the federal response to wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles.
Updated
Supreme court to hear oral arguments on law that could ban TikTok in the US
On Friday, the supreme court will hear oral arguments over a law that requires TikTok to divest its US business by 19 January or face a ban in the country.
Many in Washington, Republicans and Democrats alike, view the popular social media network as a national security threat over concerns it could be used by the Chinese government to harvest the data of American users. Donald Trump, however, has said he wants to keep TikTok available. Here’s more on the hearing:
Speaking of Trump, the president-elect has appealed to the supreme court to block his sentencing scheduled for Friday in New York, where he was last year convicted of 34 felony business charges for covering up a hush-money payment. On Thursday, reports emerged that he spoke with conservative justice Samuel Alito shortly before lodging his appeal. Here’s more on that:
Updated
Sure enough, the Senate has voted to advance the Laken Riley Act, with eight Democrats in favor of the bill, Reuters reports.
Most legislation in Congress’s upper chamber requires at least 60 votes to pass, due to the existence of the filibuster. While Republicans frequently propose bills to crack down on undocumented immigrants that attract little bipartisan support, Democrats – particularly those representing states or that voted for Donald Trump in November – have come around to this backing this bill.
The bill will now be debated, and Democrats have said they intend to offer unspecified amendments before another vote is taken on passing the measure.
Updated
Top Senate Democrat says party will support bill targeting undocumented immigrants accused of theft
Democratic Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer says he expects some of his lawmakers to vote for a bill that will require the detention of undocumented immigrants accused of theft.
“I expect that this bill will have enough votes from both parties to proceed. If we get on the bill, Democrats want to have a robust debate where we can offer amendments and improve this bill,” Schumer said in remarks on the Senate floor.
The willingness of some Democrats to back the Laken Riley Act – named after a Georgia college student murdered by a Venezuelan who was in the United States illegally – underscores the pressure on the party over immigration, after Donald Trump made concerns over undocumented migrants a central part of his campaign to return to the White House.
The measure attracted votes from 48 Democrats when it passed the House earlier this week. Here’s more on the bill:
Biden cancels trip to Italy, Vatican City as California wildfires rage, convenes emergency meeting
Joe Biden has canceled a trip to Italy and the Vatican City he was scheduled to embark on today in response to the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles county.
“After returning this evening from Los Angeles, where earlier today he had met with police, fire and emergency personnel fighting the historic fires raging in the area and approved a Major Disaster declaration for California, President Biden made the decision to cancel his upcoming trip to Italy to remain focused on directing the full federal response in the days ahead,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced yesterday.
The White House just announced Biden will convene a meeting of senior officials at 4.30pm to discuss his administration’s response to the fires. For the latest on the blazes, follow our live blog:
The House has voted 243-140 to pass a bill that sanctions the international criminal court over its arrest warrant for Israeli leaders including prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, NBCLA’s Jacob Wheeler reports.
According to Wheeler, 45 Democrats sided with Republicans in voting “yes” to the bill.
The vote comes amid American lawmakers’ attempts to defend Israel and its leaders over its war waged across the Gaza strip which has killed over 46,000 Palestinians since 7 October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel and killed over 1,200 Israelis.
Last June, 93 member states said that the ICC must be allowed to carry out its work “without intimidation” following revelations of Israeli interference.
Pennsylvania’s Democratic senator John Fetterman said on Thursday that he has expected an invitation to meet with Donald Trump, CBS reports.
According to the outlet, Fetterman, who will be the first sitting Democratic senator to meet with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort, said:
“That is the plan. Yes, we are going to have a conversation.”
He went on to add:
“I think that one, he’s the president, or he will be officially… And I think it’s pretty reasonable that if the president would like to have a conversation — or invite someone to have a conversation — to have it. And no one is my gatekeeper.”
As Donald Trump attended Jimmy Carter’s funeral service at the National Cathedral in Washington DC on Thursday, New York’s court of appeals declined to block his sentencing in his hush-money case.
The Guardian’s Joan Greve and agencies report:
One judge on the New York court of appeals issued a brief order declining to grant a hearing to Trump’s legal team.
“Your proposed order to show cause was reviewed by Judge Rivera, who declined to sign the order,” the court’s chief clerk wrote to Todd Blanche, one of Trump’s lawyers. “As a result of the Judge’s determination, no motion is pending in the above title at the Court of Appeals.”
The news comes less than a week after the judge who presided over Trump’s trial, Juan Merchan, denied the president-elect’s motion to dismiss the case. Trump’s legal team had argued that the presidential transition process should be allowed to continue without the disruption of a criminal sentencing hearing, but Merchan disputed that logic.
For the full story, click here:
The day so far
Joe Biden and the four living ex-presidents, Donald Trump among them, met at the National Cathedral in Washington DC for Jimmy Carter’s memorial service, the first time such a gathering had occurred since George HW Bush’s funeral in 2018. The president delivered a eulogy for Carter, in which he hailed Carter’s character, which he called his “enduring tribute”. So, too, did Carter family members, and the sons of his vice-president Walter Mondale and Gerald Ford, the Republican president Carter defeated in 1976. Carter’s casket is now on its way to his hometown Plains, Georgia, where he will be buried at his home after a private funeral for family later today.
Here’s what else has happened today so far:
Trump sat next to Barack Obama, the president who he levied racist attacks against to build his political profile. Nonetheless, the two seemed friendly.
Michelle Obama could not attend the memorial because of a scheduling conflict, Politico reported.
Foreign dignitaries including UN secretary general António Guterres, former UK prime minister Gordon Brown and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau attended Carter’s memorial.
Updated
Politico reports that Michelle Obama is in Hawaii, and missed Jimmy Carter’s memorial service because she had a scheduling conflict.
She was the lone former first lady not to attend, leaving Barack Obama to sit next to Donald Trump. The two former presidents – the latter of whom will be back in power soon – shared what looked to be some amiable conversation before the memorial started.
Trudeau, Brown and Guterres among foreign dignitaries and at Carter memorial service
Jimmy Carter’s memorial service was attended by a host of foreign officials, including Canada’s outgoing prime minister Justin Trudeau, United Nations secretary general António Guterres and Britain’s Prince Edward.
Former British prime minister Gordon Brown was also in attendance:
Updated
Pallbearers move Carter's casket from National Cathedral ahead of burial in Georgia
Military pallbearers have picked up Jimmy Carter’s casket and taken it out of the National Cathedral. Joe Biden and the former presidents stood with their hands over their hearts as they passed.
Carter’s casket is now scheduled to be driven to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland and then flown to an army airfield in Georgia. There, it will be Secret Service employees who protected the former president.
This afternoon, Carter’s family will hold a private funeral at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown Plains, where he taught Sunday school. Carter will then be buried at his home.
Updated
Joe Biden reached out and touched Jimmy Carter’s casket as he walked back to his seat after finishing his eulogy.
Updated
The homily was just delivered by Andrew Young, a former congressman and mayor of Atlanta who Jimmy Carter appointed as ambassador to the United Nations.
“Time and time again, I saw in him the ability to achieve greatness by the diversity of his personality and his upbringing. Dr King used to say that greatness is characterized by antitheses, strongly marked. You’ve got to have a tough mind and a tender heart, and that was Jimmy Carter,” Young said.
“And he grew up in the tremendous diversity of the South, and he embraced both sides. He was a minority in Sumter county – just about 20% 25% of the population was white, but growing up as a minority, he became the friend of the majority.”
Young concluded:
I never cease to be surprised, I never cease to be enlightened, I never cease to be inspired by the little deeds of love and mercy that he shared with us every day of his life.
It was President James Earl Carter that for me symbolized the greatness of the United States of America, and I am truly grateful for him, because in spite of the harshness of the depression and the explosions of inflation, he never wavered from his commitment to God Almighty and his love of all of God’s children.
Jimmy Carter was a blessing that helped to create a great United States of America, and for all of us and many who are not able to be here, I want to say thank you.
Updated
After finishing his speech, Biden returned to his seat next to Jill Biden.
The former presidents and vice-presidents in attendance are not scheduled to speak.
Biden closed by reflecting on his visit to the Carters’s home in Plains, Georgia shortly after taking office, and saying he missed the former president.
“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 his beloved Rosalynn are reunited again,” the president said. Former first lady Rosalynn Carter died in 2023.
“To the entire Carter family, thank you, and 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 with a life fully lived, a good life, a purpose and meaning of character, driven by destiny and filled with the power of faith, hope and love.”
Echoing the remarks of others who eulogized him, Biden described Jimmy Carter as a president who saw today’s challenges coming long before they arrived.
“Many think he was from a bygone era, but in reality, he saw a well into the future,” the president said.
“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.”
“As we all know, Jimmy Carter also established a model 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.”
Biden hails Carter's 'enduring attribute: character, character, character'
Joe Biden began by noting that he may have been the first senator to endorse Jimmy Carter’s candidacy for president in 1976, “based on what I believe is Jimmy Carter’s enduring attribute: character, character, character”.
“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,” Biden said.
“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.”
Updated
Biden delivers eulogy for Jimmy Carter
Joe Biden has stepped up to the podium to deliver a eulogy for Jimmy Carter at the National Cathedral.
He began by remarking on how he visited Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter shortly after taking office.
After leaving the presidency at the age of 56, Jimmy Carter dedicated himself to several causes, chief among them eradicating guinea worm.
The debilitating disease once affected millions of people each year in Asian and African countries, but thanks to efforts by Carter and other health organizations, has been almost entirely eradicated.
The former president’s grandson Jason Carter remarked on that in his just-concluded eulogy:
We’ve all heard a lot lately about guinea worm disease. It’s an ancient and debilitating disease of poverty, and that disease will have existed from the dawn of humanity until Jimmy Carter.
When he started working on this disease, there were three-and-a-half million cases in humans every year. Last year, there were 14. And the thing that’s remarkable is that this disease is not eliminated with medicine. It’s eliminated essentially by neighbors talking to neighbors about how to collect water in the poorest and most marginalized villages in the world, and those neighbors truly were my grandfather’s partners for the last 40 years.
And as this disease has been eliminated in every village in Nigeria, every village in Sudan or Uganda, what’s left behind in those tiny 600 person villages is an army of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s, who have demonstrated their own power to change their world.
Here’s more about the philanthropic work Carter undertook after leaving the White House:
Updated
In his eulogy, Jimmy Carter’s former White House domestic affairs adviser Stuart Eizenstat mounted a defense of his record as president.
Carter struggled to maintain his public support while in the White House, and overwhelmingly lost his bid for a second term in 1980 to Republican Ronald Reagan.
“As we lay our 39th president to rest, it’s time to redeem his presidency and also lay to rest the myth that his greatest achievements came only as a former president,” Eizenstat said.
He recounted how Carter, a southerner whose home state Georgia once practiced segregation, appointed people of color as judges and top administration officials. Eizenstat noted that the former president created the education department and Federal Emergency Management Agency, which remains “crucially important today, and we see it in Los Angeles”.
While crediting Carter with fighting climate change, Eizenstat added that “his energy bills were critical to move our country from dependence on foreign oil to energy security. We are now, as a result, the largest oil and gas producer in the world”.
“He may not be a candidate for Mount Rushmore, but he belongs in the foothills of making the US stronger and the world safer,” Eizenstat said in conclusion.
Here’s more about the political headwinds Carter faced during his presidency:
Updated
In a eulogy for Jimmy Carter delivered by his son, former vice-president Walter Mondale credited his boss with attempting to tackle climate change long before it became a global crisis.
“Carter was far-sighted. He put aside his short term political interests to tackle challenges that demanded sacrifice to protect our kids and grandkids from future harm. Very few people in the 1970s had heard the term climate change, yet Carter put his presidency on the line to pass laws to conserve energy, deregulate new oil and gas prices and invest in clean renewable alternatives to fossil fuels,” Mondale, who died in 2021, wrote in the eulogy being read by Ted Mondale, a former Minnesota state senator.
“It wasn’t a perfect program, but thanks to President Carter, US energy consumption declined by 10% between 1979 and 1983. In many ways, he laid the foundation for future presidents to come to grips with climate change. Some thought he was crazy to fight so hard to pass these laws, but he was dead right, and we know that now.”
At that last line, Ted Mondale appeared to look directly at the former presidents that are seated right in front of him. Among that group is Donald Trump and George W Bush, whose administrations did little to tackle the climate crisis.
Updated
Gerald Ford's son delivers father's eulogy for political rival Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter beat Republican President Gerald Ford in the 1976 election, but the two political rivals later became friends, and agreed to deliver eulogies at each other’s funerals.
Carter followed through on that promise after Ford died in 2006, and today, the Republican’s duty has fallen to his son, Steven Ford. “I can just see my dad getting his yellow legal pad out with his pen and writing this for his beloved friend,” Ford said as he began.
Here’s part of it:
By fate of a brief season, Jimmy Carter and I were rivals, but for the many wonderful years that followed, friendship bonded us as no two presidents since John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. It is said that president Adams’s last words were “Thomas Jefferson still survives”.
Now, since Jimmy has a good decade on me, I’m hedging my bets by entrusting my remembrances of Jimmy to my son, Steve. According to a map, it’s a long way between Grand Rapids, Michigan and Plains, Georgia, but distances have a way of vanishing when measured in values rather than miles. And it was because of our shared values that Jimmy and I respected each other as adversaries even before we cherished one another as dear friends.
Now, this is not to say that Jimmy never got under my skin, but has there ever been a group of politicians that didn’t do that to one another? During our 1976 contest, Jimmy knew my political vulnerabilities and he successfully pointed them out. Now, I didn’t like it, but little could I know that the outcome of that 1976 election would bring about one of my deepest and most enduring friendships.
Updated
Jimmy Carter’s casket is now situated before the altar of the National Cathedral, where his grandson, Josh Carter, just delivered a eulogy.
“My grandfather spent the entire time I’ve known him helping those in need. He built houses for people that needed homes. He eliminated diseases in forgotten places. He waged peace anywhere in the world, wherever he saw a chance,” Carter said.
Updated
The atmosphere in the cathedral is silent and somber as Jimmy Carter’s casket is carried in.
Earlier, the former presidents greeted each other and talked as they took their seats. One of the oddest pairings is Barack Obama and Donald Trump, who chatted cordially once they took their seats.
The former presidents were all accompanied by their spouses, with the exception of Obama, whose wife, Michelle Obama, is not in attendance.
Updated
Pallbearers are now slowly walking Jimmy Carter’s casket into the National Cathedral.
It’s draped in an American flag.
Bidens take seats at Carter memorial service, bringing together all living presidents
Joe Biden has arrived for Jimmy Carter’s memorial service, alongside first lady Jill Biden, meaning all living US presidents are now together.
The last time such a gathering occurred was in 2018, at the memorial service for George HW Bush.
The president is set to deliver a eulogy for Carter. Biden did not appear to acknowledge the former presidents behind him as he took his seat.
Updated
Harris arrives for Carter's memorial service
Kamala Harris has taken her seat for Jimmy Carter’s memorial service, alongside Doug Emhoff.
The vice-president is in a row in front of the former presidents, a group that includes Bill and Hillary Clinton, George W Bush and Laura Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
Harris did not appear to acknowledge any of them as she took her seat. Behind her, Trump and Obama continued to chat.
Updated
Trump, Obama arrive at National Cathedral for Carter's memorial
Donald and Melania Trump have taken their seats at the National Cathedral for Jimmy Carter’s memorial service, as has Barack Obama.
Before taking their seats, both men shook hands with Al Gore and Mike Pence, who are seated just behind them. Trump has had a pretty poor relationship with his former vice-president.
Obama is seated next to Trump, and the two chatted as the Democrat perused what looked to be a program for the service.
Carter's casket arrives at National Cathedral for memorial service
Jimmy Carter’s casket has arrived at the National Cathedral, where a memorial service for the former president will be held.
Joe Biden will eulogize Carter, in a ceremony that Donald Trump, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton are also expected to attend. JD Vance has also been spotted, sitting with his wife, Usha Vance.
The cathedral is on a hillside in Washington DC, and is being whipped by what must be a very chilly wind.
Also spotted at the National Cathedral is Al Gore, the former vice-president, who is seated next to Mike Pence.
Earlier this week, Politico reported that Pence’s decision to certify Donald Trump’s election loss during the joint session of Congress in 2021 despite pressure from the then-president was partially inspired by Gore presiding over his own election loss in 2001.
Updated
Jimmy Carter’s hearse just drove down Pennsylvania Avenue and past the White House, where law enforcement officers lined up to salute as he passed.
It was difficult to see the building where Carter lived for four years. A large bandstand had been erected in front of it, in advance of Donald Trump’s inauguration on 20 January.
Cameras in the National Cathedral have meanwhile spotted Mike Pence, the former vice-president, and Brett Kavanaugh, the supreme court justice.
Updated
Jimmy Carter's casket departs Capitol for memorial service
The hearse carrying Jimmy Carter’s casket is rolling out of the US Capitol to the National Cathedral, where a memorial service that will bring together all living US presidents will take place.
The cathedral is about five miles away from the Capitol. Cameras inside the building have captured dignitaries gathering for the service, including former secretary of state John Kerry.
Members of the military have carried Jimmy Carter’s casket down the steps of the Capitol.
They walked down the steps on the eastern side of the building, taking them one at a time. It’s a fairly cold 26F today in Washington DC and the honor guard is bundled up.
They just slid the casket into a hearse, which will proceed to the National Cathedral.
Updated
Members of the Carter family are gathered outside the Capitol, as Jimmy Carter’s casket is set to be moved from the building and into a hearse that will take it to the National Cathedral.
Carter has been lying in state inside the Capitol since Tuesday as dignitaries and members of the public came by to pay their respects.
Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff will join Joe and Jill Biden at the National Cathedral in Washington DC for Jimmy Carter’s memorial service.
The president will deliver the eulogy for Carter during today’s service. Harris eulogized Carter on Tuesday, after his casket arrived at the US Capitol.
Donald and Melania Trump stopped by Jimmy Carter’s casket during a visit to the Capitol yesterday.
The incoming president was meeting with congressional Republicans about how to implement his campaign promises, once he is inaugurated on 20 January.
Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, paid tribute to Jimmy Carter in an opinion piece yesterday:
Jimmy Carter represented politics at its highest calling. He reminded me of my grandfather, Amarnath Vidhyalankar, an Indian freedom fighter who served in jail as part of Gandhi’s independence movement. They both shared a commitment to standing up for principle.
American politics is different these days. Ridiculing is in vogue along with making outlandish statements that go viral on social media. Colleagues on both sides scream at each other in hearings and cling to power long past their mental and physical primes. In frivolous political times like ours, Carter is a refreshing reminder that it is possible to have a politics of dignity and statesmanship.
You can read the full piece here:
Pictures from the newswires show people waiting outside the US Capitol to pay their respects to Jimmy Carter as he lay in state.
You can read our obituary for Jimmy Carter here:
Timeline of events
7am: Public visitation of Carter’s lying in state ends.
9am: Carter’s casket departs the US Capitol. The funeral motorcade travels to Washington national cathedral, passing by the White House.
9.30am: Carter’s motorcade arrives at Washington national cathedral.
10am: The Washington funeral begins.
11.15am: Carter’s remains and his family depart the cathedral for Joint Base Andrews.
11.45am: They board Special Air Mission 39.
2pm: Special Air Mission 39 arrives at Lawson Army airfield at Fort Moore, Georgia. Carter’s remains will be transferred with ceremony to the hearse. Carter and his family then travel to Plains by motorcade.
3.30pm: Motorcade arrives at Maranatha baptist church in Plains.
3.45pm: An invitation-only funeral at the church begins.
4.45pm: A motorcade takes participants from the church to the Carter residence, with the funeral procession passing through Plains so the community can pay respects.
5.20pm: A US Navy missing man formation conducts a flyover in honor of Carter’s naval service and time as commander in chief, followed by a private graveside ceremony and interment.
My colleague Joseph Gedeon writes from Washington with what we can expect from today’s events:
Jimmy Carter honored with state funeral at Washington's national cathedral
Good morning. Thousands of mourners and living former US presidents will gather at Washington’s national cathedral today for the state funeral of Jimmy Carter, the 39th president.
Joe Biden will deliver the eulogy for his fellow Democrat, with Bill Clinton, George W Bush, Barack Obama and president-elect Donald Trump expected to join about 3,000 mourners at the service. Thursday has been designated a day of national mourning, with federal offices closed.
Biden said in an interview on Wednesday that Carter had asked him to do the honors when the pair met for the last time four years ago. He added: “Carter was a decent man. I think Carter looked at the world not from here but from here, where everybody else lives,” as he gestured from above his head towards his heart.
The service comes after a week of mourning that has seen people pay their respects to Carter as he lay in state in the US capitol after he died on 29 December, aged 100, in his home state of Georgia. His funeral procession began in Georgia before reaching Atlanta and finally being transported to Washington DC.
Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Democrats in the Senate, described Carter as “one of the most decent and humble public servants we have ever seen”.
“President Carter was a living embodiment of leadership through service, compassion, and a thirst for justice for all,” he said.
Updated
