Vice President Kamala Harris shared a tribute photo to the late President Jimmy Carter on her official social media accounts over the weekend. It has garnered a lot of attention online, not because of what it included but rather because of what it omitted. On the picture, she is seen standing with President Joe Biden and former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, who are seen solemnly placing their hands over their hearts during the funeral service at Washington National Cathedral.
The cropped image immediately sparked discussion on social media, with many wondering whether the omission was deliberate. “President Jimmy Carter loved our country. He lived his faith, served the people, and left the world better than he found it,” Harris wrote. “President Carter’s many contributions will echo for generations to come.” Notably absent from the post were former President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, who also attended the funeral and were seated next to the Obamas during the service.”
Although Harris did not mention Trump in her post, Instagram users quickly noticed his absence. One commenter referred to the edit and wrote, “Best photo crop of the decade.” Another user added, “I immediately laughed when I saw this image. I love a good cropped photo.” To further fuel the controversy, the Carter Center, the nonprofit organization Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter founded in 1982, also posted a series of funeral photos on X (formerly Twitter) that did not include the Trumps, despite the fact that both individuals attended the service.
Given the intense political rivalry between Trump and Harris, who faced off in the 2024 election with Harris running as Biden’s vice president against Trump in his third presidential bid, the omission has raised questions about whether it was a simple oversight or a calculated decision. All five of the current U.S. presidents, Biden, Trump, Clinton, Bush, and Obama, as well as a number of former vice presidents, attended the funeral service last Thursday. Mike Pence and incoming Vice President JD Vance were among the notable guests.
While several former first ladies were present, including first lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, Michelle Obama’s absence raised questions, as her office did not explain why she did not attend. Although the day’s focus was on honoring Jimmy Carter’s legacy, the controversy surrounding Harris’ post has changed the online conversation, demonstrating that politics cannot remain out of the spotlight even during times of unity.
