Washington, Jan 15, (dpa/GNA) – President Joe Biden paid tribute to the late former president Jimmy Carter on Thursday, at a state funeral in the US capital Washington DC.
In his speech, Biden said his friendship with Carter had taught him that strength of character was more valuable than titles or power. He denounced the abuse of power and warned that there was an obligation not to provide a safe haven for hatred.
President-elect Donald Trump and predecessors Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton were at Thursday’s service at Washington’s National Cathedral.
Carter died on December 29 at the age of 100. The Democrat was in the White House from 1977 to 1981.
His body was then flown to Washington on Tuesday and the coffin was laid out in the US Capitol building. Biden has ordered flags to be flown at half mast for 30 days, which will also cover the day his successor Trump is sworn in on January 20, outraging the Republican.
GNA