The attendance of five past and present presidents at Jimmy Carter’s funeral at Washington National Cathedral on Thursday likely left Carter himself perplexed.

Throughout his time, James Earl Carter stood out as the unusual member of the former-presidents club, a status that evolved with the arrival of Donald Trump.

Carter often disregarded the traditional norms of the office, openly critiquing his successors and inserting his views into foreign affairs. He entered Washington in 1977 as an outsider—having been a single-term governor of Georgia during the fallout of the Watergate scandal—and exited in a similar manner four years later.

With unwavering confidence in his beliefs, he didn’t shy away from expressing opinions that often stirred controversy. Upon returning to his hometown of Plains, Georgia, his lifelong advocacy for democratic elections, affordable housing, and public health gave him a platform to voice his thoughts freely.

Receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 further solidified his credibility.

President Joe Biden emphasized Carter’s defining trait was “character, character, character,” during his eulogy, stating, “I believe character shapes destiny – both in our lives and in the life of our nation.”

In the cathedral’s front row, alongside Biden were Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Trump. This assembly marked the first time since George H.W. Bush’s funeral in 2018 that so many holders of the Oval Office gathered together.

Their collective appearance likely stemmed from their respect for national traditions, such as state funerals and presidential inaugurations, alongside the adage: “Always attend other people’s funerals; otherwise, they won’t attend yours.”

Former presidents once upheld an unspoken agreement to refrain from publicly criticizing their successors. For example, George H.W. Bush, after losing to Clinton, pledged to remain out of political conflicts, a promise he honored throughout his life. He preferred to stay away from the press and opinion pieces, as he noted in a YSL News interview in 2002.

Carter, however, regularly broke this code, commenting openly on both Republican and Democratic administrations.

Stuart Eisenstat, a former adviser to Carter, humorously noted during the service that just like he offered unsolicited advice to presidents, he might as well be giving God advice on making the world a peaceful place, prompting laughter from those seated close by.

Carter met with various foreign leaders at times when sitting presidents sought to isolate them, such as Fidel Castro of Cuba and Hafez al-Assad of Syria. He traveled to North Korea for nuclear negotiations and discussed the outcomes publicly on CNN before revealing them to then-President Clinton.

He voiced his disdain for Ronald Reagan’s policies, criticized Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky scandal, deemed George W. Bush’s administration as “the worst in history,” and suggested that Russian interference had influenced Trump’s 2016 election victory.

Trump, in response, labeled Carter as a “terrible president.”

Nevertheless, just 11 days before starting his second term, Trump attended the funeral with his wife, Melania.

This shift in status meant that post-Trump, Carter was no longer viewed as the main outsider. Biden, Obama, and Clinton framed Trump as a threat to democracy, a concern that surpassed anything directed at Carter, who was lauded for his efforts to enhance democratic systems globally. Even George W. Bush, traditionally a Republican, chose not to vote for Trump in 2020, opting instead to write in the name of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Trump and Obama were seen chatting and smiling together. However, neither Clinton nor Bush acknowledged Trump with a handshake upon their arrival to sit near him. Bush did, however, share a light-hearted moment with Obama. Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton, who were both Democratic presidential nominees defeated by Trump in 2016 and 2024, also refrained from initiating a handshake with him.

Reflecting on the challenges of relations among past presidents, Clinton once explained in a 1997 interview with YSL News, “When you have two strong-willed individuals, and a long history between them, there are moments when things aren’t exactly smooth or harmonious.”

In an account regarding his relationship with Carter, he revealed their complex history. During his time as governor of Arkansas, Clinton attributed his loss in the reelection to President Carter, particularly due to the handling of Cuban refugees from the Mariel boatlift at Fort Chaffee, which led to riots and negatively impacted Clinton’s political standing.

Carter recognized the difficulties in their communication. In 1997, he remarked to YSL News, “We’ve been disappointed at times by a lack of easy communication and understanding with some of the people who work under President Clinton.”

However, just two years later, Clinton honored Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Biden shared a closer bond with Carter than with any other living former presidents. As a young senator from Delaware, he was the first Democratic figure from outside Georgia to back Carter’s presidential ambitions. He was also the last president or former president to visit Carter to say farewell.

On the 100th day of his presidency, Biden traveled to Plains to meet with Carter, who was then 96 and facing health challenges. During this visit, Carter suggested that Biden could deliver his eulogy when the time came.

Biden reflected on his relationship with Carter during an interview with YSL News, stating, “Sure, we had our disagreements, some of which were made public.” Biden was so discontented with Carter’s leadership in 1980 that he contemplated joining Senator Edward Kennedy from Massachusetts in a challenge for the Democratic nomination. Yet, he affirmed, “Carter was a decent man.”

In his eulogy, Biden shared insights from their final gathering in Plains. “We encountered Jimmy as he truly was, at peace with a life rich and meaningful. His character was shaped by destiny and strengthened by faith, hope, and love.”

“May God bless you, Jimmy Carter.”