Condolences poured in from around the globe Sunday as word spread of the death of former President Jimmy Carter in his hometown in Georgia at the age of 100 — with all the remaining living US presidents offering personal tributes.
“Whenever I had a chance to spend time with President Carter, it was clear that he didn’t just profess these values,” former President Barack Obama said in a statement. “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,’” Obama said. “He made that choice again and again over the course of his 100 years, and the world is better for it.”
But the messages came from across the political spectrum.
“I just heard of the news about the passing of President Jimmy Carter,” President-elect Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Sunday.
“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,” Trump wrote. “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.”
President Joe Biden also reacted to Carter’s death, calling him “an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” in a statement released by the White House.
“With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us,” Biden said. “He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe.
“He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism,” he said. “We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together. The love shared between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is the definition of partnership and their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism.”
Follow the latest on President Jimmy Carter’s death
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Among the scores of others offering condolences was former President George W. Bush, who issued a statement on X through the Bush presidential center.
“James Earl Carter, Jr., was a man of deeply held convictions,” the statement said. “He was loyal to his family, his community, and his country. President Carter dignified the office. And his efforts to leave behind a better world didn’t end with the presidency.
“His work with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center set an example of service that will inspire Americans for generations,” Bush wrote. “We join our fellow citizens in giving thanks for Jimmy Carter and in prayer for his family.”
Meanwhile, former President Bill Clinton also honored Carter for being “guided by his faith.”
“From his commitment to civil rights as a state senator and governor of Georgia, to his efforts as President to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama,” Clinton said in the statement, “he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world.”
Also commenting was New York’s senior senator.
“Today we mourn the loss of one of our most humble and devoted public servants,” US Sen. Chuck Schumer wrote on X. “President Carter personified the true meaning of leadership through service, through compassion and through integrity.
“He taught us that the strength of a leader lies not in rhetoric but in action, not in personal gain but in service to others,” Schumer wrote.
Carter, 100, was the longest-living former president in US history.
He died in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, after spending nearly two years in hospice care — and more than a year after former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who died at the age of 77.
The former president’s death was announced by the Carter Center.
The 39th president, a former peanut farmer, remained active in civic duties until he was sidelined by ill health in recent years, including his work for Habitat for Humanity.
He was also a former recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, earning the award in 2002 for his ongoing work as a global humanitarian.
In a post on X Sunday House Speaker Mike Johnson also paid his respects.
“President Carter’s story was one of humble beginnings, and his life is a testament to the boundless opportunities available in this great nation,” Johnson wrote. “Because of his work in brokering the Camp David Accords and his advocacy with Habitat for Humanity, the world is a more peaceful place, and more Americans have a place to call home.
“No one can deny that President Carter led an extraordinary life of service to his country,” he said.
Former Vice President Al Gore said Sunday that Carter’s legacy is marked not just by his elected service but also “his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.
“It is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world,” Gore said.
With Post wires