President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have paid tribute to Jimmy Carter, the former U.S. president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who passed away at the age of 100.
Carter, the longest-living president in U.S. history, died on Sunday afternoon at his home in Plains, Georgia.
Biden hailed Carter, a fellow Democrat, as “a man of principle, faith, and humility,” while Trump acknowledged that all Americans owe him “a debt of gratitude.”
Carter, who began his journey as a peanut farmer, became the 39th president of the United States in 1977. However, his tenure ended after one term when he was defeated by Ronald Reagan in the 1980 election.
Despite leaving the White House with low approval ratings, Carter’s legacy was revitalized through decades of humanitarian work, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize.
“Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian,” President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden said in a statement.
“To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” they added.
“He showed that we are great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.”
Biden announced that a national day of mourning would take place on 9 January, with Americans encouraged to visit places of worship to “pay homage” to the late president.
He also ordered flags to be flown at half-mast at all public and military buildings for 30 days, a period which includes the inauguration of president-elect Trump.
Trump posted on Truth Social: “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.”
Trump previously mocked Carter’s single term on the campaign trail ahead of his victory in this year’s presidential election, and said in 2019: “He’s a nice man. He was a terrible president.”
This followed Carter’s description of Donald Trump as an “illegitimate president,” alleging that Russian interference influenced the 2016 election—claims denied by both Moscow and Trump.
King Charles III praised Carter, stating, “His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I fondly recall his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighted Carter’s strong faith and values, adding that he “redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights both at home and abroad.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reflected on Carter’s leadership, remarking, “He served during a time when Ukraine was not yet independent, yet his heart stood firmly with us in our ongoing fight for freedom.”
French President Emmanuel Macron described Carter as a “steadfast advocate for the rights of the most vulnerable” who “tirelessly fought for peace.”
Before becoming the 39th U.S. president in 1977, Carter served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, governor of Georgia, and was a peanut farmer.
Carter’s presidency faced significant challenges, including acute economic difficulties and the Iran hostage crisis, which tragically resulted in the deaths of eight Americans. However, his tenure also saw a notable foreign policy success in 1978 when he brokered the Camp David Accords, leading to peace between Egypt and Israel.
Despite this triumph, Carter’s popularity waned, and in the 1980 election, he was decisively defeated by Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter won only six states and Washington, D.C., as voters favored Reagan’s portrayal of him as a weak leader unable to tackle inflation and record-high interest rates.
After leaving office, Carter returned to his modest two-bedroom ranch-style home in Plains, Georgia, becoming the only president to fully resume life in his pre-political residence. Rejecting the lucrative opportunities often pursued by former presidents, he told The Washington Post in 2018 that he “never really wanted to be rich.”
Instead, he spent his remaining years trying to address global problems of inequality and disease.
He founded the Carter Center in 1982 to pursue his vision of world diplomacy, and received the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts with the foundation to promote human rights around the world.
He also teamed up with Nelson Mandela to found The Elders, a group of global leaders who committed themselves to work on peace and human rights.
Carter is survived by his four children, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
His wife, Rosalynn, who he was married to for 77 years, died in November 2023.
Announcing his death, Carter’s son Chip said his father was “a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love”.
“My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together.”
Since 2018 and the death of George HW Bush, Carter was the oldest surviving US president.
Carter stopped medical treatment for an undisclosed illness last year and instead began receiving hospice care at his home. He had suffered from health issues including a melanoma that spread to his liver and brain.
Another leading tribute came from Barack Obama, who reflected on spending time with Carter, saying that “he taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service”.
Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, where Carter taught Sunday school well into his 90s, “will be a little quieter on Sundays”, Obama said.
“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.”
Former US President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, also spoke of Carter’s faith.
“President Carter lived to serve others – until the very end,” they said in a statement.