 "How Jimmy Carter's funeral plans shake-up Donald Trump's inauguration day")
Will Jimmy Carter’s funeral plans shake up Donald Trump’s inauguration?
Carter, who was America’s oldest living president, passed away on Sunday.
He was 100 years old.
US President Joe Biden has declared that America will observe a National Day of Mourning on 9 January.
“With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us. He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe,” Biden said of Carter.
But what do we know about Carter’s funeral plans? And what does it have to do with Trump’s inauguration?
Let’s take a closer look:
What do we know about Carter’s funeral plans?
As per CNN, on January 4, Carter’s body will be taken to the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta.
The motorcade will take his body through Plains, Georgia, and past his childhood home and the Georgia State Capitol.
The president’s body will remain at the Carter Center for the next three days to allow the public to pay their respects.
Carter’s body will then be taken to Washington DC – where he will lie in state till January 9.
The state funeral for Carter will be held on January 9 in Washington.
The funeral will be held at the Washington National Cathedral at 10 am.
“President Carter exemplified what it means to translate faith into action,” a statement from the Washington National Cathedral read as per CNN. “From his selflessness and humanitarian spirit, we draw inspiration. And from his example of fidelity and generous faith, we find hope that we might yet learn to embody his example of good and faithful service.”
Biden is set to deliver the eulogy – which Carter had requested before he died.
As per Forbes, Carter’s grandson Jason, who is also chairman of the Carter Center, will also give an address.
The New York Times reported that eulogies written by the late former president Gerald Ford and former vice president Walter Mondale will be read by their sons.
It remains unclear which former presidents will attend Carter’s funeral.
Every living ex-president attended the funeral of George HW Bush in 2018.
Carter’s body will then be taken back to Georgia to the Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains for a private service.
Carter taught Sunday school at this church for decades.
His body will then be taken via motorcade to his residence for burial – the same place the body of his wife Rosalynn, who died last year, was buried.
According to Forbes, the New York Stock Exchange will also be shut on January 9.
The stock exchange previously closed in 2018 to honour George HW Bush.
How will it overshadow Trump’s inauguration?
As per Hindustan Times, all government buildings in the US must fly their flags at half-mast for a month after the death of the president.
The US Department of Veteran Affairs released a statement saying that US flags should be flown at half-mast at “all government buildings, grounds, and naval vessels” to symbolise a period of national mourning for 30 days after the passing of a president or former president.
This means that flags will be at half-mast during Trump ’s inauguration on January 20.
Carter’s death will also cast a sombre shadow over what Trump and his supporters likely see as their triumphant return to power.
Indeed, some Democrats called the development a ‘parting gift’ for Trump .
“Jimmy Carter left one last parting gift for Trump after his death. Since the American flag flies at half-staff for 30 days at all federal buildings after the death of a former president, on Trump’s inauguration on January 20 all flags will be at half-staff in Carter’s honour,” one supporter wrote.
“How fitting that all government flags will be flown their lowest… Half-Mast during Trumps inauguration,” another added.
Some Trump supporters also took to social media to accuse the Democrats of orchestrating the announcement to ruin the big day.
“DemocRATS made the official announcement at this time to ensure the flags would be flown at half-mast during the second inauguration,” a Trump supporter wrote.
Trump , meanwhile, took to Truth Social to comment on Carter’s passing.
He wrote, “President Jimmy Carter is dead at 100 years of age. While I strongly disagreed with him philosophically and politically, I also realized that he truly loved and respected our Country, and all it stands for. He worked hard to make America a better place, and for that I give him my highest respect. He was a truly good man and, of course, will be greatly missed. He was also very consequential, far more than most Presidents, after he left the Oval Office. Warmest condolences from Melania and I to his wonderful family!”
Carter, a Democrat, became president in January 1977 after defeating incumbent Republican president Gerald Ford in the 1976 election.
His one-term presidency was marked by the 1978 Camp David accords between Israel and Egypt, bringing some stability to West Asia.
Carter spent his long post-presidential career devoted to humanitarian work, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. World leaders and former US presidents have paid tribute to a man they praised as compassionate, humble and committed to peace in West Asia.
With inputs from agencies
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