Five US presidents – Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton – unite for Jimmy Carter’s Washington funeral

US President Joe Biden touches the casket after delivering the eulogy at the State Funeral Service for former US President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Photo / AFP

It is the world’s most exclusive society and meetings are limited to infrequent state occasions, but the so-called American Presidents Club was in session today [NZDT] to see off departed comrade Jimmy Carter.

The five living men who have occupied the White House – Joe Biden and his predecessors Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump – came together at Washington’s National Cathedral for their first encounter since the 2018 funeral of another former President, George H.W. Bush.

The political establishment turned out in force for today’s ceremony, with former vice-presidents Mike Pence, Al Gore and Dan Quayle chatting amiably as the elite leaders' group was seated nearby.

The current and former US Presidents attend the state funeral for Jimmy Carter in Washington. Photo / AFP

It might have been an awkward affair, as Trump has denigrated most of the group in disputes of varying degrees of seriousness – and found himself sitting next to long-time sparring partner Obama.

Trump launched his political career by pushing the racist and false “birther” conspiracy theory that his Democratic predecessor – the first and only black President – was lying about being a natural born American.

But the pair appeared able to put their differences on hold as television images showed them exchanging cordial small talk, with Obama smiling and laughing.

It was also the first time since the election that Trump had been in the same room as his opponent Kamala Harris – whom he repeatedly accused of being mentally ill – and his first time in four years in close proximity to his estranged vice-president, Mike Pence.

Pence refused to endorse his former boss in the 2024 election after a mob that Trump sent marching on the Capitol to halt the certification of the 2020 election stormed the building chanting, “Hang Mike Pence!”

Former US President Barack Obama speaks with President-elect Donald Trump. Photo / AFP

Biden, who gave the eulogy, sat with First Lady Jill Biden beside Vice-President Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff.

Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton – whom Trump defeated in 2016 to claim his first term – took their places next to Bush and his wife Laura.

As the TV audience studied the presidents' interactions, US media remarked on the added awkwardness of the leaders of Canada and Panama, two nations threatened recently by Trump, being seated less than 10m from the President-elect.

Carter, who died on December 29, lay in repose in his home state of Georgia and then at the US Capitol, where the public paid their respects from Tuesday through early Thursday.

After the funeral, Carter’s family will return to the Peach State for a private ceremony and a procession before he is buried next to his late wife, Rosalynn, who died in 2023.