President-elect Donald Trump confirmed his attendance at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral during a brief press interaction at his Mar-a-Lago club on New Year’s Eve. Responding to reporters’ questions as he entered a party, Trump simply stated, “I’ll be there,” when asked about his plans to attend the services. He declined to comment on whether he had spoken with members of the Carter family.
Carter’s funeral services, scheduled for January 4th to 9th in Georgia and Washington D.C., will honor the life of the former president who passed away on Sunday at the age of 100. Trump, a frequent critic of Carter during his previous campaigns, notably used Carter’s presidency during the 1970s as a point of comparison against President Biden, highlighting inflation rates of that era. However, following Carter’s death, Trump posted on his social media platform, expressing respect for the former president. He acknowledged their philosophical and political differences but emphasized Carter’s love and respect for the country, crediting him with working hard to make America a better place.
Beyond the funeral announcement, Trump fielded several other questions from reporters. Regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, he offered only, “We’re going to see what happens,” and concerning the hostages held by Hamas for over a year, he warned, “I’ll put it this way: They better let the hostages come back soon.” Expressing optimism for the coming year, Trump predicted 2025 would be “a great year” for the country and the world, adding that he sensed a general feeling of happiness globally. When asked about his New Year’s resolutions, he simply stated, “I just want everybody to be happy, healthy and well.” He later briefly addressed the New Year’s Eve crowd at Mar-a-Lago, promising to “do a great job as your president.”
In contrast to Trump’s Florida celebration, President Biden spent New Year’s Eve attending his niece’s wedding in Delaware and Pennsylvania, cutting short his family’s holiday trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands to do so.