The ushers at Jimmy Carter’s funeral couldn’t have squeezed more awkward tension into three rows of pews if they had tried.
For what was supposed to be a somber final farewell for the 39th president, Thursday’s service was also filled with icy exchanges, glares, snubs and mysterious conversations.
Viewers said the dynamics were like something out of an uncomfortable reality TV show, with one Associated Press journalist comparing it to D.C.’s version of a ‘Real Housewives’ reunion.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were seated front row alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff.
Behind them sat Melania Trump and President-elect Donald Trump, as well as former President Barack Obama – who was attending the service solo due to a scheduling conflict that had Michelle in Hawaii.
Also in that row sat former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, as well as former President Bill Clinton and former Democratic nominee and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The third row was reserved for former vice presidents including Mike Pence and Karen Pence and Al Gore.
All eyes were on the current and former political friends and foes as they arrived at the Washington National Cathedral Thursday morning.
Former President Barack Obama (left) appears to be laughing at something President-elect Donald Trump (right) told him during the funeral for President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral on Thursday
Obama and Trump laughing together
Trump helped birth the so-called ‘birther’ movement while Obama humiliated the reality TV host onstage at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in 2011 – considered a motivating factor for Trump’s decision to launch a 2016 White House run.
But on Thursday Trump and Obama acted like they were old friends.
The Republican president-elect and the former Democratic commander-in-chief chatted, with Trump making Obama laugh at one point.
The images prompted a number of caption contests online and calls for a lip-reader.
Forensic lip reader Jeremy Freeman told DailyMail.com that Trump cryptically said it was important to speak to Obama in private ‘today’ so they could ‘deal’ with something.
Trump suggested they look for a ‘quiet place’ where they could discuss the mystery matter after the service. It remained unclear whether the crucial information Trump had to tell Obama related to a national security issue, or something else.
But the animated conversation between them left onlookers highly curious as to what they were whispering about.
The two men are expected to see each other again in 11 days, when Trump is sworn-in for his second term.
Vice President Kamala Harris later turned back around to address former President Barack Obama as second gentleman Doug Emhoff acknowledged the Trumps
Kamala gives Obama the side-eye as he gabs with Trump
At the same time, the 2024 Democratic nominee didn’t seem pleased to see Obama gabbing away with her recent political opponent.
Later Harris was seen whispering in Obama’s ear, while Emhoff briefly chatted with the Trumps.
Ahead of the election, Obama campaigned vigorously for Harris – even chiding a group of black men in Pittsburgh for not being as supportive of Harris as they were when Obama first ran for the White House in 2008.
‘We have not yet seen the same kinds of energy and turnout in all quarters of our neighborhoods and communities as we saw when I was running. Now, I also want to say that seems to be more pronounced with the brothers,’ Obama said at a campaign stop in mid-October.
He suggested black men ‘just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president’ and told the group, ‘I’ve got a problem with that.’
Days before Biden exited the 2024 race, Obama reportedly told allies that the then 81-year-old should seriously consider dropping out after his disastrous late June debate performance against Trump.
President Joe Biden (left) wipes a tear from his eye at the funeral of President Jimmy Carter as first lady Jill Biden (center) and Vice President Kamala Harris (right) appear somber
More iciness between Kamala and Jill?
When the Bidens joined Harris and Emhoff in the front row even CNN’s Jake Tapper acknowledged that ‘you didn’t see a particularly warm greeting between the first couple and the second couple.’
Harris and Dr. Biden were seated next to one another – with the president and Emhoff on the aisles.
A senior White House official pushed back on the cat fight narrative explaining that the Bidens, Harris and Emhoff had spent about 30 minutes backstage together before the ceremony began.
The source told DailyMail.com that ‘it was very warm, it was very loving.’
The official added that Dr. Biden hung around after the service so she could properly say goodbye to Harris and Emhoff and that they ‘hugged and kissed.’
The East Wing previously pushed back on a Wall Street Journal report that said relations between the first and second couples were ‘frosty’ behind-the-scenes since Harris lost the presidential race.
The article stated that Dr. Biden hadn’t been a fan of Harris since she dragged Joe onstage over the issue of bussing at the first 2020 Democratic primary debate, which took place four and a half years ago, in June 2019 in Miami.
A spokesperson for the East Wing pointed out that Dr. Biden did a number of solo campaign outings to support Harris’ bid once her husband dropped out of the race.
Karen Pence remained seated as Melania and President-elect Donald Trump greeted former Vice President Al Gore and then former Vice President Mike Pence, who they haven’t been seen with publicly since 2021 in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol attack
Former Vice Presidents Al Gore (left) and Mike Pence (center) sit stone-faced alongside former second lady Karen Pence. Karen Pence refused to acknowledge the Trumps at the Carter funeral Thursday
Karen Pence snubs the Trumps
Karen Pence refused to acknowledge the Trumps as they arrived for the Carter funeral services.
The former second lady was seated next to her husband and remained seated as the Trumps arrived.
She made no effort to shake hands with Melania Trump, who she worked hand-in-hand with when their husbands were in office during Trump’s first term.
Mike Pence shook hands with Donald Trump after former Vice President Al Gore did the same.
The Pences and Trumps had a major falling out after the January 6 Capitol attack, as Trump supporters erected a makeshift gallows and chanted ‘hang Mike Pence’ when the vice president refused to overturn Biden’s legitimate 2020 election win.
The Carter funeral was the first time the two couples came together since leaving office in January 2021.
When former President George W. Bush arrived he gave former President Barack Obama a playful slap to the stomach and appeared to ignore the Trumps. He was later photographed shaking Trump’s hand
George W. Bush ignores the Trumps as he arrives
As President George W. Bush arrived at the ceremony, he gave Obama – who won election in 2008 by attacking Bush’s record – a playful slap in the stomach while completely ignoring both Donald and Melania Trump.
While the Obamas and the Bushes have long moved on from any bad blood over Obama’s 2008 win – which was helped by Obama’s criticism of the Iraq war, which Bush started – it appeared that Bush hadn’t developed a fondness for his fellow Republican.
While Bush didn’t go as far as his former Vice President Dick Cheney, who alongside daughter Liz, endorsed Harris, he publicly warned the country about the threats of domestic terrorism on the September 11 anniversary following January 6.
Trump, in turn, said that Bush had ‘a failed and uninspiring presidency’ and shouldn’t be ‘lecturing’ the public about domestic terrorism.
Prior to that, Trump humiliated Bush’s brother Jeb on the 2016 campaign trail, mocking the former Florida governor for being ‘low energy.’
Bush eventually acknowledged the Trumps at the ceremony, shaking the president-elect’s hand.
