WASHINGTON — Past and present occupants of the White House will gather in Washington on Thursday to attend former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral.
While a few of the U.S. presidents have joined together for events occasionally, this will be the first time in more than six years that all living U.S. presidents were in the same place at the same time.
Carter’s funeral is the largest gathering of the “presidents club” since five of them attended the Washington funeral services for George H.W. Bush in December 2018.
The last two presidential inaugurations were missing members of the presidents club. In 2021, then-outgoing president Trump skipped his successor’s inauguration. The Carters were also not in attendance, due to the couple’s health and concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2017, George H.W. Bush missed Trump’s inauguration due to his age and health.
After Carter’s death, current President Joe Biden now has the distinction of being the oldest living U.S. president. He’s also the oldest serving U.S. president. But it’s a record that Donald Trump could break in a few years.
President-elect Trump will become the oldest person ever sworn into office on Jan. 20, 2025. That’s a milestone previously held by Biden when he was sworn in at age 78 back in 2021.
When Biden’s presidency ends on Jan. 20, 2025, he will be 82 years and 2 months (or 30,012 days) old.
Trump would break that record of being the oldest U.S. president toward the end of his second term on Aug. 15, 2028.
After Biden and Trump, the next oldest living presidents are George W. Bush (78), Bill Clinton (78) and Barack Obama (63).
For Carter’s funeral, Trump and his wife, Melania, entered Washington National Cathedral first and were ushered to their seats. Obama took his seat next to Trump, chatting with his successor in office, who did not stand to greet him but shook hands. Michelle Obama didn’t go to the funeral service.
Next to Obama was George W. Bush and his wife, former first lady Laura Bush. Next to them were Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.
Biden and his wife Jill sat next to Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff. There were no visible greetings, but the former presidents were all just together in a private room ahead of their entrances into Washington National Cathedral.
Joe Biden, the 46th U.S. President, is 82 years old (Born Nov. 20, 1942)
Bill Clinton, the 42nd U.S. President, is 78 years old (Born Aug. 19, 1946)
George W. Bush, the 43rd U.S. President, is 78 years old (Born July 6, 1946)
Barack Obama, the 44th U.S. President, is 63 years old (Born Aug. 4, 1961)
Donald Trump, the 45th and soon-to-be 47th U.S. President, is 78 years old (Born June 14, 1946)