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President Joe Biden, President-Elect Donald Trump and more high-profile elected officials on Sunday paid tribute to former President Jimmy Carter, who died earlier in the day at age 100.
Biden said the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and that he lost a dear friend.
He cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocate for the disadvantaged as examples for others.
“To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning — the good life — study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.”
Biden added that he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington.
Trump posted a statement in response to Carter’s death on his social media site Truth Social.
“Those of us who have been fortunate to have served as President understand this is a very exclusive club, and only we can relate to the enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History,” he wrote. “The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude. Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers.”
Former President Barack Obama posted a tribute on X.
“President Carter taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice and service,” he wrote. “Michelle and I send our thoughts and prayers to the Carter family, and everyone who loved and learned from this remarkable man.”
Former Vice President Al Gore praised Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.”
Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes.
Gore said that “it is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.”
During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. But Gore said he is “grateful” for “many years of friendship and collaboration” with Carter.
Meanwhile, Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remembered Carter as a man who lived to serve others.
“Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end.”
The statement recalled Carter’s many achievements and priorities, including efforts “to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David.”
After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in “supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity — he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,” the statement said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom posted his tribute on X, saying the late president “was a man of rare character — whose beliefs ran true, deep, and never wavered. His candor and compassion, moral leadership, and sense of duty set a standard we all should aspire to. California joins the nation and the world in mourning his passing.”
U.S. Rep Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House who hails from California, also posted on X.
“At the heart of President Carter’s public service was his fervent commitment to honoring the spark of divinity within every person,” she wrote. “He always defended that spark: whether teaching Sunday school in his beloved Marantha Baptist Church, brokering the landmark Camp David Accords to pave the way to peace or building homes with Habitat for Humanity. 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 public good, which he always placed above his own. After leaving the White House, he carried on his service — leading perhaps the most impactful post-presidency in history.
She added that Carter’s “love for his wife, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, is immortal. Their beautiful bond and partnership in service were a wonder to behold.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer posted on X that Carter “personified the true meaning of leadership through service, through compassion, and through integrity. From his legacy as president, to his dedication to improving human rights across the globe, and his tireless efforts alongside his wife Rosalynn, in building a better world through Habitat for Humanity, he inspired millions with his unwavering commitment to justice and equality.”
He added that Carter’s “faith in the American people and his belief in the power of kindness and humility leave a strong legacy. He taught us that the strength of a leader lies not in rhetoric but in action, not in personal gain but in service to others.”
Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also paid tribute to Carter in a statement.
“Jimmy Carter was a man of character and integrity whose lifelong service to the greater good was most evident when he left office,” he said in a statement. “His tireless advocacy on behalf of the unhoused was something I was fortunate enough to witness firsthand and a remarkable feature of a humanitarian who never stopped believing in the dignity of our neighbors. May we continue the legacy of President Carter through acts of selfless service to others to never stop uplifting our community.”
Former Georgia State Rep. Stacey Abrams shared her own tribute on X.
“President Jimmy Carter lived a life of courage, fortitude, kindness and grace,” she wrote. “He was a giant who never saw anyone as smaller than himself. Whether at a Boys & Girls Club banquet or when he sponsored a medical clinic for the uninsured in his corner of rural Georgia, he lived James 2:17 each day. Jimmy Carter built homes, saved lives and tended to souls. God bless President Carter, may the family he and Mrs. Carter raised know only comfort in these days of grief.”
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, who hails from Georgia, also posted on X, saying “Carter’s lifetime of work and and dedication to public service changed the lives of many across our state, our country and our world.” He added that Carter “will be remembered for his commitment to democracy and human rights, his enduring faith, his philanthropic leaders and his deep love of family.”
