On Thursday, January 9, 2025, a state funeral service for former President Jimmy Carter was held at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Many former presidents, dignitaries, and family members attended the event, with former First Lady Melania Trump, 54, gaining particular notice due to her distinctive clothing choice.
Commencing at 11 a.m., the service assembled all five surviving U.S. presidents and their partners, along with a few vice presidents. Among them were Bill and Hillary Clinton, George W. and Laura Bush, Barack Obama (without Michelle), Joe and Jill Biden, Donald and Melania Trump, Al Gore, Mike and Karen Pence, Kamala Harris, and Doug Emhoff. Hillary Clinton’s patriotic bald eagle brooch with the US flag was also a noticeable accessory.
Melania Trump’s outfit was a black Valentino trench coat dress with a belted waist. The dress had a notable oversized white collar with a unique black-and-white print of a 19th-century neoclassical sculpture of kissing lovers among roses and butterflies. This design was part of Valentino’s fall 2019 collaboration with Undercover. She accessorized the dress with traditional black Manolo Blahnik pumps and minimal jewelry.
Her unconventional choice of clothing quickly elicited reactions on X social media platform. Some users questioned her clothing choice, with comments ranging from equating her look to wearing a nun attire to questioning if she grabbed a choir robe on her way in. Others anticipated a repeat of the scrutiny over her wardrobe choices during her time as First Lady.
There were also cultural and religious connotations drawn from her outfit. One user noted a resemblance with the attire in #HandmaidsTale while others saw a Puritan influence in her choice of clothing.
Interactions between political figures at the service were also observed. President-elect Donald Trump, dressed in a black suit with a blue tie, had a lengthy conversation with former President Barack Obama. Vice President Kamala Harris, seated directly in front of the Trumps, kept her gaze forward throughout the service. Karen Pence avoided interacting with Donald and Melania Trump, even while her husband, former Vice President Mike Pence, greeted them.
Current First Lady Jill Biden was present in a formal black outfit, paired with Dior slingback pumps. President Joe Biden, 82, gave one of the eulogies. Other speakers included Steve Ford, Ted Mondale, and Carter’s grandson Jason. Michelle Obama was noticeably absent.
At a news conference earlier in the week, while Carter’s body was being transported from the Carter Center in Atlanta to the U.S. Capitol, President-elect Trump criticized Carter’s decision regarding the Panama Canal. Trump expressed his disapproval of Carter’s decision to relinquish control of the canal to Panama for a dollar, calling it a “terrible thing to do.”
Carter’s remains will be buried in Plains, Georgia, his hometown. After the state funeral, his casket was transported to Georgia for burial. He will be laid to rest next to his wife, Rosalynn Carter, at their family residence, which is part of the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park.
