Many MAGA supporters are against a eulogy President-elect Donald Trump posted on Truth Social about former President Jimmy Carter, who died on Sunday.
Newsweek reached out to Trump’s transition team for comment as well as to some of his close allies.
The Context
Carter died Sunday at the age of 100 at his home in Plains, Georgia. A Democrat, he was the longest-living president in U.S. history.
Within hours, Trump wrote on his social media platform, 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.
“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.”
Many of Trump’s supporters, however, were enraged at the President-elect’s comments.
“Lol, I know you’re being nice. But you’re tripping,” posted Theodore Winters, who identifies himself on Truth Social as a “conservative Republican artist. “Carter was a terrible president and damaged The United States Of America to such an extent that we are STILL dealing with his horribly policy decisions and his inflation repercussions in 2024.”
User John55, who identifies himself as an “America First” veteran, posted: “Jimmy Carter pardoned all the Vietnam draft dodgers that forced other men to take their place! Many of these men did not come home. Personally, I think Carter lived a long life to suffer for the pardons to the draft dodgers he pardoned.”
What To Know
Trump was not always positive about Carter. In October, on Carter’s 100th birthday, Trump had a dig at President Joe Biden, calling Biden “the worst president,” and declaring that Carter must be “the happiest man because Carter is considered a brilliant president by comparison,” The Associated Press reported.
Reports noted that Trump did not make note of Carter’s milestone birthday or the fact that he had been under extended hospice care. Advocacy group American Bridge 21st Century labeled the comment “cruel” and claimed that “nothing is sacred or off-limits for Trump.”
Many of the comments on Trump’s Truth Social post riffed off of Trump’s previous sentiment, calling Carter a “terrible president” or the “worst president in history.”
Ahead of the 2024 election.Carter had said he was “only trying to make it to vote for Kamala Harris.”
The former president is survived by his sons John William, James Earl and Donnel Jeffrey; his daughter, Amy; 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. His wife Rosalynn Carter died at the age of 96 in November 2023.
What People Are Saying
President-elect Donald Trump on Truth Social Sunday: “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.”
President Joe Biden in a statement Sunday: “Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well.”
Former President Barack Obama, in an article on Medium: “Maranatha Baptist Church will be a little quieter on Sundays, but President Carter will never be far away—buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels.”
What Happens Next
There will be two public observances for Carter—one in Atlanta, Georgia, and another in Washington, D.C., followed by a private interment, The Carter Center said in a statement. Details on when the ceremonies will be held are still pending.
Biden said Sunday that he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in the nation’s capital, meaning that it will occur around the same time as Trump’s inauguration. Last year, Biden said at a fundraiser that Carter “asked me to do his eulogy” when the time came.
The post MAGA Furious Over Donald Trump’s Apparent U-Turn on Jimmy Carter appeared first on Newsweek.
