Biden delivers eulogy at late president Jimmy Carter's state funeral 

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - WASHINGTON — Former president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, was honored with a stated funeral and the National Cathedral in the US capital on Thursday.

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended the funeral just days after announcing his resignation following weeks of domestic pressure calling on him to step down. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also attended the service.

All living presidents who succeeded Carter, including US President-elect Donald Trump, were also in attendance.

US President Joe Biden sat in the front row with First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff. Seated a row behind them were George W. Bush and his wife Laura, Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and his wife Melania. The funeral brought current and former presidents, bitter rivals like Trump, Harris and Hillary Clinton together in a rare moment of solidarity and unity.

President-elect Donald Trump visited Carter’s casket, which laid in the middle of the Capitol Rotunda to pay his respects a day earlier.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden was tasked with delivering the eulogy, less than two weeks before he leaves office. Biden delivered an emotional message that highlighted the deep relationship he shared with the 39th US president.

“That day, just the four of us sat in the living room and shared memories that spanned almost six decades, a deep friendship that started in 1974,” Biden said.

“I was a 31 year old senator and I was the first senator outside of Georgia, maybe the first senator, to endorse his candidacy for president. It was an endorsement based on what I believe is Jimmy Carter's enduring attributes: character, character, character.”

Biden showered the late president with praise saying “We're all fallible. But it's about asking ourselves are we striving to do things, the right things. What value, what are the values that animate our spirit. Do we operate from fear or hope, ego or generosity? Do we show grace? Do we keep the faith when it's most tested? Or keeping the faith with the best of humankind and the best of America is a story, in my view, from my perspective, of Jimmy Carter's life.”

Biden said he learnt that “strength of character” is more important that titles or power from Carter. The emotional president stated that principles he continues to live by to this day, like treating everyone with dignity and respect, and standing up to injustice, were all traits he picked up from the former peanut former turned president.

The US president also stated that Carter was often not believed in, criticised and misunderstood and from a “bygone era” to the point where it had discounted from his “unbelievable accomplishments”.

Attempting to set the record straight, he said, “In reality, he saw well into the future. A white Southern Baptist who led on civil rights. A decorated Navy veteran who brokered peace. A brilliant nuclear engineer who led a nuclear non-proliferation. A hard working farmer who championed conservation and clean energy. And a president who redefined the relationship with a vice president.”

Biden ended his eulogy on a personal note, sharing that he misses Carter, “but I take solace in knowing that he and his beloved Rosalynn (Carter’s wife) were reunited again” said Biden before stepping away from the podium and softly dragging his hand across Carter’s casket.

Jimmy Carter’s casket was loaded once more on a plane after the state service where it was flown to his hometown of Plains, Georgia. The late president was due to receive one final honouring, a private funeral with his family and friends.

Jimmy Carter, who died on 29 December at the age of 100, will then be buried next to his wife of 77 years, in their hometown where they were born, grew up, lived much of their lives and died. — Euronews