PALM BEACH, Fla. — Reaching the impressive age of 100 allowed former President Jimmy Carter to cast his vote for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming November elections, as he faced off against Republican Donald Trump. Following Carter’s passing, it has been confirmed that flags at the White House will be flown at half-staff as Trump prepares for his anticipated return to the presidency on January 20.
Though Carter and Trump hold vastly different political ideologies and lifestyles, and have operated in divergent eras of leadership, their legacies will once again become interconnected. This convergence will highlight the contrasting impressions that linger, even as Trump embarks on a second term nearly 40 years after Carter’s presidency.
During his 2024 campaign, Trump did not hold back from targeting Carter, frequently mocking him as a way to rally his supporters. He labeled President Joe Biden as “the worst,” stating Biden made Carter look “brilliant” by comparison. Notably, he delivered this characterization on Carter’s 100th birthday in October.
As he prepares for his new term, Trump is committed to reversing many of Carter’s key achievements. He aims to undo environmental safeguards, reconsider a pivotal 1977 treaty that returned control of the Panama Canal to Panama, and dismantle the federal Department of Education which Carter established in 1979.
In remarks made at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump condemned Carter’s decisive role in the Panama Canal’s transfer, declaring, “It’s a disgrace what took place” and asserting that Carter “gave it to them for one dollar.” He expressed that Panama’s control of the canal led them to believe they were clever, stating, “They laugh at us because they think we’re stupid. Well, we’re not stupid anymore.”
These statements coincided with the time when Carter’s body was transported to Washington, where he was set to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol. When asked if it was appropriate to criticize Carter at such a moment, Trump remarked, “I liked him as a man. I disagreed with his policies. He thought giving away the Panama Canal was a good thing.” He attempted to downplay his earlier comments on the canal, stating, “I didn’t want to bring up the Panama Canal because of Jimmy Carter’s death,” despite having mentioned it of his own accord.
Nonetheless, Trump is expected to attend Carter’s funeral, and he offered a respectful statement following Carter’s passing, acknowledging the challenges Carter faced during his presidency and expressing gratitude for Carter’s efforts to improve American lives. Trump also referred to Carter as “a good man” who had a significant impact, describing him as “very consequential, far more than most Presidents, after he left the Oval Office.”
Amber Roessner, a media historian and University of Tennessee professor, noted that candidate Trump employed Carter as a symbol to critique the Biden administration, particularly regarding the economic issues and unrest that echo the challenges faced by Democrats during Carter’s time in office. Interestingly, both men can be seen as outsiders who disrupted the political landscape, despite presenting very different messages.
The distinct differences in their messages are evident; while Carter promoted a philosophy of unity and moral responsibility, Trump has frequently engaged in a more divisive political rhetoric. Roessner observed that both men managed to present themselves as genuine figures in a political environment often characterized by fleeting loyalties and transactions.
Carter, revered as a devout Baptist, was known for his 77-year marriage to his wife Rosalynn and for teaching Sunday school even while serving as president. He provided Trump with advice in 2019, emphasizing the importance of peace, human rights, and honesty.
In stark contrast, Trump has been married three times and faced legal issues stemming from hush money payments linked to an extramarital affair. Both figures, however, demonstrated aptitude in leveraging media coverage while expressing discontent with the press, particularly favoring narratives that aligned with their personal agendas.
Recalling a 1976 interview, Carter critiqued political journalists for their focus on sensationalism over substance. However, he did not reach the extremes Trump has, who famously denounces the media as an “enemy of the people” and calls unfavorable reporting “fake news,” leading to a hostile atmosphere at his rallies.
Carter, recognizing Trump’s rising influence, had previously warned Democrats not to underestimate his appeal. Both presidents have distinct approaches toward foreign policy, having engaged with controversial leaders and states.
In the later years, Carter offered to assist with North Korea diplomacy during Trump’s administration, while Trump later praised a discussion with Carter as a “very good telephone conversation,” affirming that he “always liked President Carter.”
Their relationship has not been without its tensions, evident in a 2014 incident where Trump mistakenly referred to Carter as “the late, great Jimmy Carter,” and in Carter’s remarks that suggested Trump’s presidency might be questioned due to Russian interference.
As for Carter’s principled stance, he criticized Trump for withholding funds from the World Health Organization during the pandemic, while Trump dismissed Carter’s presidency as ineffective. Following Carter’s death, historians reflected on Trump’s comments being standard for a president’s passing, yet noted that Trump’s earlier derogative remarks likely reveal his true feelings.
With Biden’s directive to lower flags in honor of Carter on the day of inauguration, Trump expressed dissatisfaction, asserting that “nobody wants to see this,” unhappy with the reverence shown towards a fellow former president.
Despite the ongoing political discourse, Carter’s reputation has seen a revival since his presidency, particularly after his 1981 departure from the White House. He established the Carter Center in 1982, dedicating years to promoting democracy, mediating conflicts, and championing global health initiatives. The former president was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
Conversely, Trump has remained defiant in accepting his 2020 defeat to Biden and has not engaged in typical post-presidency activities. Instead, he continues to focus on a political resurgence aimed at reclaiming his position, making history as the first president to achieve nonconsecutive terms since Grover Cleveland.
As he approached the end of his life, Carter entered hospice care in February 2023, with a personal goal to witness the voting day for Kamala Harris, a wish that he fulfilled by mailing his ballot on October 16, only to pass away a little over two months later.
