In what should have been a solemn and unifying event to honor the late President Jimmy Carter, partisan antics overshadowed the funeral held at the National Cathedral on January 9. Vice President Kamala Harris, accompanied by her husband Doug Emhoff, used the occasion to deliver yet another divisive moment, snubbing President-elect Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, both in person and later on social media.
The funeral brought together America’s political elite, but cordiality and decorum seemed to be in short supply. President Trump and the stunning Melania Trump entered the cathedral with grace, yet were met with indifference—or outright hostility—from many of their political peers. While former Vice Presidents Al Gore and Mike Pence greeted the Trumps with handshakes, Karen Pence made headlines for refusing to even acknowledge Melania Trump.
Former President Barack Obama, attending solo while his wife vacationed in Hawaii, also appeared to snub the Trumps initially. Though he later engaged in a jovial exchange with Donald Trump that went viral online, his earlier cold demeanor did not go unnoticed. Similarly, George W. and Laura Bush avoided any interaction with the Trumps, choosing instead to warmly greet Obama, with George W. even patting him on the stomach in a moment that garnered significant attention online.
The most glaring insult came not during the funeral but afterward, when Vice President Harris took to her official social media account. Posting a group photo of the political leaders in attendance, Harris deliberately cropped out Donald and Melania Trump. The post, meant to honor Carter, read:
> “President Jimmy Carter loved our country. He lived his faith, served the people, and left the world better than he found it. President Carter’s many contributions will echo for generations to come.”
The omission was impossible to ignore. Social media erupted, with the Breaking911 X account highlighting the snub and noting, “Kamala tweeted this photo of Jimmy Carter’s funeral, and guess who she cropped out? It’s obvious that President-elect Trump and First Lady Melania were placed at the end of the row in advance to be able to crop them out.”
Harris followed up with a second post, praising Carter for his humility, grace, and service. However, the damage was already done. Her actions were seen as a sharp contrast to the values she claimed to honor.
Harris’s petty gesture was met with widespread criticism, with many pointing out the hypocrisy of using a funeral to settle political scores. One commenter noted,
> “Imagine a full-grown adult, and almost President of the US, being so petty that on her official account she crops out her political opponent AT A FUNERAL, who she lost to? That’s who this woman really is.”
Another added,
> “I’ve not seen this kind of thing since about 11th grade where the girl cuts her boyfriend out of the prom pic.”
### **A Missed Opportunity for Unity**
In a moment that could have symbolized reconciliation and grace, Harris chose division. The funeral of President Jimmy Carter should have been a time to honor a man known for humility and service, not a platform for political snubs. By cropping the Trumps out of the narrative, Harris revealed more about her own character than anything else. As one observer put it, “This was a moment to rise above. Instead, she stooped low.”
