Former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral on Thursday was attended by five current and former presidents. But in a photo of the group later shared on social media by Vice President Kamala Harris and the Carter Center, one of them, President-elect Donald J. Trump, was pushed out of the frame.
Both Harris and Carter, who lost in a tight race against Trump, were harshly criticized by the president-elect, who attended his funeral at the Washington National Cathedral with first lady Melania Trump.
of photograph Three Democratic members of Congress were most prominently featured in an article shared from the vice president’s official social media accounts on Saturday.
It showed President Biden, former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama standing with their hands on their hearts. Former Republican President George W. Bush was obscured by Ms. Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, who was standing next to Ms. Harris in the front seat.
Trump was next to Obama. The photo showed a large pillar blocking the Trumps, who were at the end of the line.
“President Jimmy Carter loved our country,” Harris wrote in the post. “He lived his faith, served others, and left the world better than he ever imagined.”
The Carter Center, a nonprofit organization founded by Carter after he left the White House, shared the following: different photo Thursday’s funeral scene. The photo, taken from a low vantage point, shows attendees seated and the president, vice president and their spouses clearly visible in the front row. In the second row, you can see Mr. Clinton, Laura Bush, and Mr. Obama. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Mr. Bush are partially hidden, and the Trumps are not visible at all.
It’s unclear whether Trump’s omission was intentional. Other photos taken by news organizations during the funeral showed all five presidents in the same frame.
Representatives from Harris’ office declined to comment Saturday.
The Carter Center and Trump’s White House transition team did not respond to requests for comment.
The state funeral for Carter, the nation’s oldest former president who died at the age of 100, was marked by a rare display of bipartisanship amid deep political divisions. Mr. Obama had a friendly conversation with Mr. Trump, who has spent years trying to undermine the legitimacy of Mr. Obama’s presidency with baseless claims about citizenship.
Other Republicans in attendance included Mr. Bush and Mike Pence, who served as vice president during Mr. Trump’s first term and was targeted by rioters during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. was. Pence refused to support Trump during the campaign, citing his actions during the riot. At the funeral, they awkwardly huddled together and shook hands.
Other senior officials, including Mr. Pence’s wife Karen Pence and Mr. Bush, did not shake Trump’s hand and appeared to avoid him.
Former first lady Michelle Obama did not attend the service.
Eli Cohen Contributed to the report.
