Jimmy Carter died on Sunday, leaving behind not only the legacy of serving as the 39th President of the United States, but a lengthy and eventful post-presidency full of humanitarian efforts.
He was 100 — the first former president to live to the century mark.
As someone would expect of a man with a history as involved in American politics as his, politicians from across the spectrum gathered to remember the former President on Sunday.
In a post to social media, President Joe Biden, who is now the oldest-living person to serve as president, called Carter a man of “great character and courage.”
“With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote fair and free elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us,” Biden said in part. “He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people across the globe.”
President-elect Donald Trump took to Truth Social to react, and made the following statement:
“I just heard of the news about the passing of President Jimmy Carter. 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 said. “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 said Carter had the “most impactful” post-presidency in American history in a post to Medium.
“Whenever I had a chance to spend time with President Carter, it was clear that he didn’t just profess these values,” Obama wrote. “He embodied them. And in doing so, he taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service. In his Nobel acceptance speech, President Carter said, ‘God gives us the capacity for choice. We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace.’ He made that choice again and again over the course of his 100 years, and the world is better for it.”
In a statement, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass remembered Carter not only as a politician, but for the man he was.
“Years ago, I was fortunate to sit and speak with President Carter,” she said in part. “I will cherish the conversation we were able to have, and am grateful for his wisdom and guidance. I send my deepest condolences to the entire Carter family and his loved ones on this difficult day.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said serving others was simply a way of life for the former President in a statement made Sunday.
“President Carter was a man of rare character – whose beliefs ran true and ran deep, whose moral compass never wavered,” Newsom said in part. “He saw the common humanity in all of us, building bridges between people of different faiths and factions abroad while working to meet the needs of those at home. Despite daunting challenges and trying times, his bright energy and spirit never faltered.”
Luis Zuniga contributed to this report.
