HomeTop StoriesDemocrats and Republicans honor the life of former President Jimmy Carter

Democrats and Republicans honor the life of former President Jimmy Carter

Former presidents, members of Congress and other American leaders from across the political spectrum began honoring former President Jimmy Carter after the Carter Center confirmed that the 39th president of the United States had died on Sunday.

Politicians praised Carter for his lifelong service, noting his humanitarian and volunteer work, as well as his advocacy for peace around the world. Leaders also reminisced about their friendships and work with the late president, with many echoing the sentiment that the country and the world benefited from his leadership.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden called Carter “a dear friend” in a statement and said “the world has lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian.”

“With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, advance free and fair elections, house the homeless, and advocate for the least among us,” they said the Bidens. “He saved, uplifted and changed the lives of people all over the world.”

President-elect Donald Trump said on Truth Social that Carter “did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for that.”

However, Trump criticized Carter this month for his policy on the Panama Canal. He also made jokes about Carter on the 2024 campaign trail.

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama said Carter had the “longest and most impactful post-presidency in American history.”

“Elected in the shadow of Watergate, Jimmy Carter promised voters that he would always tell the truth. And he did – he advocated for the common good, with all the consequences that entailed,” the Obamas said in a statement. “He believed that some things were more important than re-election – things like integrity, respect and compassion.”

Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reminisced about their relationship with Carter, noting in a joint statement that they were “proud, early supporters” of his campaign for president.

“I will always be proud to have awarded him and Rosalynn the Medal of Freedom in 1999 and to have worked with him in the years after he left the White House,” said Bill Clinton.

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Former President George W. Bush called Carter “a man of deeply held convictions.”

“He was loyal to his family, his community and his country,” he said in a statement. “President Carter has dignified the office.”

As he turned 100 this year, Carter said he wanted to live long enough to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

Harris mourned Carter in a post on

“I had the privilege of knowing President Carter for many years. I will always remember his kindness, wisdom and deep grace,” Harris added in a longer statement. “Our world is a better place because of President Carter.”

‘A model of service delivery’

Top Democrats and Republicans in Congress also released statements honoring Carter’s life and impact.

“President Carter’s trust in the American people and his belief in the power of kindness and humility leave a strong legacy,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “He taught us that the power of a leader is not in rhetoric, but in action, not in personal gain but in service to others.”

Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said: “Carter’s character and dedication, like his crops, were fruits of all-American soil.”

“After each season when life led him far from home to exalted service, he returned home determined to use his unique experiences and influence to help others; in building, teaching and volunteering; in further enriching the same rich soil that had made his own life possible,” McConnell said.

Members of House leadership from both parties honored Carter’s life and service on X. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a statement that “no one can deny that President Carter lived an extraordinary life in service to his country,” while his deputy, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., praised Carter’s “longevity of service.”

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House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called Carter “a great man, a great role model and a great humanitarian.” Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Carter “epitomized dignity and decency, grace and goodness” in a lengthy post on ”

“As President, his work to restore integrity to the political arena during a difficult chapter in our history was a testament to his firm faith in the sanctity of the common good, which he always placed above his own,” Pelosi continued. “After leaving the White House, he continued his service and led perhaps the most impactful post-presidency in history.”

Other politicians also quickly began paying tribute to him in social media posts.

“Like much of the Greatest Generation, President Carter will be remembered for what he built and left for us – a model of service late in life, a tireless commitment to family and philanthropy, and a more peaceful world we call home can name,” said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said in a statement.

Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., said on X that Carter “gave us a pure and lasting example of a public servant.”

“I’m sending love to the Carter family today as we honor his life and his tireless, humble mission to help others,” he added.

‘Serving his fellow man’

Condolences continued to pour in from both sides of the aisle, with Republicans also honoring Carter, a Democrat.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said Carter “devoted his entire life to serving others.”

“Please join Ann and me in praying for the Carter family, their friends and all who worked alongside the former president,” he said.

After his presidency, Carter received widespread recognition for his work in human rights and social justice. He founded the Carter Center, a nonprofit organization founded “on a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering,” according to the group’s website.

Carter also worked with Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization, to help build homes for those in need.

“Even more historic than his time in the White House was Carter’s post-presidency, which he devoted to serving his fellow man,” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said on X. “From providing housing for thousands of families to Sunday As a school for the children of his community, he will continue to stand out among America’s leaders for his great humanitarian achievements and his deep commitment to his Christian faith.” Several politicians also pointed to Carter’s faith in the response to his death. Carter taught Sunday school in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, until the pandemic.

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“We have been bitten by different political issues, but have much in common, including a love for the Lord,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, in a typical shorthand post on X.

A native of Georgia, Carter received hospice care in Plains, where he was born a hundred years ago in 1924.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, said Carter “showed the world the impact our state and its people have on the country.”

Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., posted a photo of himself and the late president and first lady on X, writing that Carter was “one of my heroes, the embodiment of faith made alive through the noble work of public service.”

Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., said in a statement that “the state of Georgia and the United States are better places because of President Jimmy Carter.”

“I join all Georgians and all Americans in mourning his loss,” Ossoff added. “May the memory of Jimmy Carter be a blessing.”

Biden praised Carter, whom he called “a dear friend,” for his “decency” and character during remarks Sunday evening.

“Millions of people around the world, all over the world, feel like they too have lost a friend, even if they never met him. That’s because Jimmy Carter lived a life measured not by words, but by his actions,” Biden said.

Biden, whose son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015, recalled Carter’s battle with cancer, which he called a bond between the two leaders’ families.

“Jimmy Carter was as courageous in his fight against cancer as he was in everything in his life,” Biden said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com

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