Former President Donald Trump took the opportunity to mock fellow ex-President Jimmy Carter during a recent campaign event, coinciding with Carter’s historic 100th birthday. The comments were made on October 1 at a manufacturing facility in Waunakee, Wisconsin, where Trump delivered a speech criticizing current President Joe Biden.
While addressing the crowd, Trump labeled Biden as “the worst president in U.S. history,” and then turned his attention to Carter, quipping, “Jimmy Carter is the happiest man because Jimmy Carter is considered a brilliant president by comparison,” according to reports from PBS, The Daily Beast, and USA Today.
Carter, a Democrat who served as the 39th president from 1977 to 1981, was defeated by Republican Ronald Reagan in the 1980 election. His presidency is often associated with economic challenges and the Iran hostage crisis, yet he has gained a reputation for his post-presidential humanitarian efforts and commitment to peace.
Trump’s comments came at a time when other Republican leaders were setting aside political differences to honor Carter, the longest-living president in U.S. history. The celebration of his centennial birthday is particularly poignant, as it follows more than 19 months after he entered hospice care in February 2023.
Throughout his life, Carter has been vocal in his criticisms of Trump. In a 2018 interview with CBS News, he remarked that Trump was “very careless with the truth.” This sentiment was echoed during a separate conversation with The Washington Post, where Carter stated, “I think he’s a disaster … in human rights and in treating people equally.” His late wife, Rosalynn Carter, who passed away in November 2023, also expressed concern about Trump’s honesty, stating, “The worst is that he is not telling the truth, and that just hurts everything.”
As Carter celebrated his 100th birthday, his grandson, Jason Carter, shared that the former president hopes to live long enough to cast his vote in the upcoming presidential election. “I’m only trying to make it to vote for Kamala Harris,” he reportedly told family members.
Early voting in Georgia, where Carter resides, is set to begin on October 15 for the November 5 election. In Georgia, there are no laws prohibiting a ballot from being counted if the voter passes away between the early voting period and Election Day, a detail that adds a layer of significance to Carter’s desire to participate in the electoral process.
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Currently, Jimmy Carter holds the title of the oldest living former president, as well as the longest-living president in U.S. history. Trump, on the other hand, is noted as the oldest presidential nominee in U.S. history and ranks as the second-oldest person to be sworn in as president, following Biden.
The juxtaposition of Trump’s remarks about Carter and the surrounding celebrations raises questions about the political landscape and the legacy of both presidents. While Carter has often been seen as a symbol of integrity and humanitarian efforts, Trump’s provocative statements highlight the stark divisions that characterize modern American politics.
