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Jimmy Carter funeral updates: Congress, Supreme Court gather for ceremony in DC

PHOTO: Members of the public begin to be invited into the U.S. Capitol Rotunda to view the flag-draped casket of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Jan. 7, 2025, in Washington.
2:28
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
US longest-lived president, Jimmy Carter, lies in state in nation's capitol
By Emily Shapiro
Last Updated: January 7, 2025, 9:51 PM

Members of Congress, the Supreme Court and other dignitaries gathered at the U.S. Capitol for a lying-in-state ceremony for former President Jimmy Carter.

Vice President Kamala Harris delivered one of the eulogies for Carter, who died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100.

Key Headlines

  • 'Left the world better than he found it,' Harris says
  • 'Always willing to roll up his sleeves to get the job done,' House Speaker Mike Johnson
  • 'Making the lives of his fellow man better'
  • Service to begin at Capitol
Here's how the news is developing.

Jan 07, 2025 9:51 PM

Family, Carter Cabinet members serve as honorary pallbearers

The Carter family and surviving members of former President Jimmy Carter’s Cabinet have gathered at the top of the steps of the Capitol to serve as honorary pallbearers and help bring Carter’s casket inside the Capitol.

PHOTO: The casket of former President Jimmy Carter is carried to the US Capitol Rotunda, where he will lie in state, in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2025.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
The casket of former President Jimmy Carter is carried to the US Capitol Rotunda, where he will lie in state, in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2025.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
PHOTO: The casket of Jimmy Carter, the former president who died on December 29 at the age of 100, is carried by a body bearer team, to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, Jan. 7, 2025.
Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
The casket of Jimmy Carter, the former president who died on December 29 at the age of 100, is carried by a body bearer team, to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, Jan. 7, 2025.
Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

PHOTO: Amy Carter (C), daughter of Jimmy Carter, watches the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter arrive at the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2025.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Amy Carter (C), daughter of Jimmy Carter, watches the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter arrive at the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2025.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Jan 07, 2025 9:23 PM

Carter arrives at Capitol

Former President Jimmy Carter’s casket, in a horse-drawn caisson, has arrived at the U.S. Capitol. Military body bearers will carry the casket into the Capitol Rotunda.

VIDEO: Jimmy Carter’s casket arrives at the US Capitol
4:50
Former President Jimmy Carter’s casket, in a horse-drawn caisson, has arrived at the U.S. Capitol. Military body bearers will carry the casket into the Capitol Rotunda.
PHOTO: The flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter travelling by a horse-drawn caisson arrives to the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2025.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
The flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter travelling by a horse-drawn caisson arrives to the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2025.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

PHOTO: The flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter travels by a horse-drawn caisson to the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2025.
Susan Walsh/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter travels by a horse-drawn caisson to the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2025.
Susan Walsh/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

PHOTO: The flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter is transferred to a horse-drawn caisson at the US Navy Memorial before traveling on to the Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2025, where Carter will lie in state.
Mark Schiefelbein/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
With the flag of the presidents of the United States flying at left, the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter is transferred to a horse-drawn caisson at the US Navy Memorial before traveling on to the Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2025, where Carter will lie in state.
Mark Schiefelbein/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

At 4:30 p.m. ET, members of Congress, the Supreme Court, the Cabinet, the Joint Chiefs and other officials will come together at the Capitol for a lying in state ceremony. Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson are expected to deliver eulogies and lay wreaths.

PHOTO: The U.S. Army's Caisson Detachment carries the casket during the funeral procession for Former President Jimmy Carter on January 7, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Brendan McDermid, Pool via Getty Images
The U.S. Army's Caisson Detachment carries the casket during the funeral procession for Former President Jimmy Carter on January 7, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Brendan McDermid, Pool via Getty Images

Jan 07, 2025 9:00 PM

Motorcade makes emotional stop at Navy Memorial

Former President Jimmy Carter’s motorcade made an emotional stop at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor Carter’s service as a lieutenant in the Navy.

PHOTO: The U.S. Marines stand in formation on the day when the casket of Jimmy Carter, the former president who died on December 29 at the age of 100, will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., Jan. 7, 2025.
Brendan Mcdermid, Pool via Reuters
The U.S. Marines stand in formation on the day when the casket of Jimmy Carter, the former president who died on December 29 at the age of 100, will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., Jan. 7, 2025.
Brendan Mcdermid, Pool via Reuters
PHOTO: The flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter travels by a horse-drawn caisson to the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter travels by a horse-drawn caisson to the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

PHOTO: Members of the U.S. Navy line up to march with the casket of former President Jimmy Carter before it arrives at the U.S. Navy Memorial to travel to the Capitol in Washington to lie in state, Jan. 7, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein, Pool via Reuters
Members of the U.S. Navy line up to march with the casket of former President Jimmy Carter before it arrives at the U.S. Navy Memorial to travel to the Capitol in Washington to lie in state, Jan. 7, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein, Pool via Reuters

PHOTO: A horse-drawn caisson carries the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter as the State Funeral Procession departs the US Navy Memorial and heads to the Capitol in Washington, DC, on Jan. 7, 2025, where Carter will lie in state.
Ting Shen/AFP via Getty Images
A horse-drawn caisson carries the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter as the State Funeral Procession departs the US Navy Memorial and heads to the Capitol in Washington, DC, on Jan. 7, 2025, where Carter will lie in state.
Ting Shen/AFP via Getty Images

Carter’s childhood dream was to be in the Navy and he went on to graduate from the United States Naval Academy in 1946. Carter resigned from the Navy in 1953 after his father’s death so he could return to the family farm.

Carter’s casket was transferred from the hearse to a horse-drawn military caisson for a funeral procession that reproduces the walk Carter took with his family on the day of his inauguration. On that January day in 1977, Carter walked the mile-and-a-half inaugural parade route to the White House, rather than ride in a limousine, bringing a common touch to his presidency.

PHOTO: Family members look on as the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter is transferred to a horse-drawn caisson at the U.S. Navy Memorial before traveling on to the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 7, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein, Pool via AFP via Getty Images
Family members look on as the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter is transferred to a horse-drawn caisson at the U.S. Navy Memorial before traveling on to the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 7, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein, Pool via AFP via Getty Images

PHOTO: The flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter is transferred to a horse-drawn caisson at the U.S. Navy Memorial before traveling on to the Capitol on Jan. 7, 2025, in Washington, DC.
Mark Schiefelbein, Pool via Getty Images
The flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter is transferred to a horse-drawn caisson at the U.S. Navy Memorial before traveling on to the Capitol on Jan. 7, 2025, in Washington, DC.
Mark Schiefelbein, Pool via Getty Images

Navy officers stood silently along the snow-lined street, witnessing the casket's transfer to the caisson.

PHOTO: The flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter is transferred to a horse-drawn caisson at the U.S. Navy Memorial before traveling on to the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 7, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein, Pool via AFP via Getty Images
The flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter is transferred to a horse-drawn caisson at the U.S. Navy Memorial before traveling on to the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 7, 2025.
Mark Schiefelbein, Pool via AFP via Getty Images
PHOTO: A horse-drawn caisson carries the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter as the State Funeral Procession departs the US Navy Memorial and heads to the Capitol in Washington, DC, on Jan. 7, 2025, where Carter will lie in state.
Ting Shen/AFP via Getty Images
A horse-drawn caisson carries the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter as the State Funeral Procession departs the US Navy Memorial and heads to the Capitol in Washington, DC, on Jan. 7, 2025, where Carter will lie in state.
Ting Shen/AFP via Getty Images

The Carter family will walk behind the casket as it heads from the U.S. Navy Memorial to the U.S. Capitol.

VIDEO: Motorcade makes emotional stop at Navy Memorial
15:38
Former President Jimmy Carter’s motorcade made an emotional stop at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor Carter’s service as a lieutenant in the Navy.


Jan 07, 2025 7:51 PM

Motorcade leaves Joint Base Andrews

Former President Jimmy Carter’s motorcade has left Joint Base Andrews in Maryland en route to Washington, D.C., to begin several days of services in the nation’s capital.

PHOTO: The flag-draped casket of former US President Jimmy Carter departs in a hearse during following an arrival ceremony in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Jan. 7, 2025.
Samuel Corum/AFP via Getty Images
The flag-draped casket of former US President Jimmy Carter departs in a hearse during following an arrival ceremony in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Jan. 7, 2025.
Samuel Corum/AFP via Getty Images
PHOTO: A joint services military body bearer team carries the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter on arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Jan. 7, 2025.
Steve Helber/AP
A joint services military body bearer team carries the flag-draped casket of former President Jimmy Carter on arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Jan. 7, 2025.
Steve Helber/AP

PHOTO: Members of former President Jimmy Carter's family including his grandson Jason Carter (2nd-R) and wife Kate depart Special Air Mission 39 as his casket is transferred to a hearse, Jan. 7, 2025, in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Members of former President Jimmy Carter's family including his grandson Jason Carter (2nd-R) and wife Kate depart Special Air Mission 39 as his casket is transferred to a hearse, Jan. 7, 2025, in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

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