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President-elect Donald Trump and his former vice president, Mike Pence, were reunited for the first time since January 2021 at the funeral of the late Jimmy Carter.

The handshake between the two men, almost four years to the day when Trump supporters called for Pence’s execution for not stopping the certification of the 2020 Electoral College results, was one of many interactions between the living current and former presidents and vice presidents gathered at the Washington National Cathedral on Wednesday for Carter’s state funeral service. Carter died last month at the age of 100.

Trump was seated beside former President Barack Obama, the pair captured on camera having a long and apparently friendly conversation, despite Obama only months ago warning voters about the dangers of a second Trump administration before last year’s election. Years prior, Trump encouraged speculation about whether or not Obama was born in the United States, which would have precluded him from being commander in chief.

Obama then engaged in a discussion with Pence, who was sitting behind him with his wife Karen. Former first lady Michelle Obama had a scheduling conflict in Hawaii and did not attend.

Obama also stood up to permit former President George W. Bush and one-time first lady Laura Bush to pass him in their pew, with George W. Bush tapping Obama on the belly. The cameras did not capture the Bushes speaking with Trump or incoming first lady Melania Trump after they arrived, but George W. Bush and Donald Trump did shake hands following the service.

Former President Bill Clinton and one-time Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were assigned seats on the same pew as Obama and Trump, but on the opposite end and entered from the other side, avoiding an awkward interaction between the bitter political opponents. Bill Clinton repeatedly placed his hand on his wife’s back, leaning over to talk to her multiple times.

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President Joe Biden, who eulogized Carter, and Vice President Kamala Harris were positioned in the pew in front of their predecessors, with first lady Jill Biden and Harris, who have had a frosty relationship since the 2020 Democratic primary, next to each other.

Harris was seen looking at Trump, to whom she lost last November’s election to return to the White House next week. Second gentlemen Doug Emhoff was similarly seen sharing pleasantries with the incoming first couple after the service.

— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) January 9, 2025