RESPONSE: Jimmy Carter’s grandson says “being mocked by Trump is high praise”
The former president has had a lot to say about his predecessors, but that doesn’t mean any of them value his opinion.
Donald Trump has talked about former president Jimmy Carter numerous times, grumbling about Carter’s condemnation of him, and the public comparisons of the Carter couple’s relationship with Trump’s marital scandals.
His most recent sniping, however, came after Rosalynn Carter entered hospice and only days before she passed away.
At a campaign event last month, Trump declared that President Carter would “go down as one of the greatest presidents in history by comparison to Crooked Joe Biden.”
It’s a reiteration of previous backhanded comments, in which he suggested that Carter must appreciate Biden because Carter himself would no longer be the worst president in history, and he followed it up with further repetitions the day after Mrs. Carter’s entry to hospice was revealed.
Carter, who was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his work in finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts, has been celebrated, not only for his record of working for peace, equality, and ecological improvement as president but for continuing to be a force for good after leaving office — working with Habitat for Humanity until he entered hospice care himself — and for the very visible loving relationship with his wife, Rosalynn.
He doesn’t respond to Trump jibes, although he did say in 2019 that he believes if the 2016 election was closely examined, evidence would surface that Trump didn’t actually win (this and other clips below).
However, Carter’s grandson, James Carter IV, was willing to respond. He tweeted:
“I hate that my grandfather’s name is in Trump’s mouth at all, but I am not offended. For a Democrat, being mocked by Trump is high praise.”
The day after the family shared that Rosalynn Carter had entered hospice care, Trump lashed out again. According to USA Today he said:
“The happiest person anywhere in this country right now is Jimmy Carter because his administration looked brilliant compared to these clowns…Compared to Biden, Jimmy Carter was a brilliant, brilliant president.”
Watch Trump’s October attack on Carter and Biden below:
Trump on Jimmy Carter: "He's, uh, pretty old, and he might even say, 'I really like Trump.'" pic.twitter.com/zTdqeYeyJ5
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 7, 2023
You can also see Trump making similar attacks during a 2021 interview on Fox News with Mark Levin.
Trump: Jimmy Carter is a very happy man because he’s no longer going down as the worst president in history pic.twitter.com/gmvXL0bd75
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 22, 2021
Carter’s 2019 comments on Trump’s 2016 win, or “win.”
Former President Jimmy Carter: If fully investigated, it would show that Trump didn't actually win the election in 2016. He lost the election and he was put in office because the Russians interfered …on his behalf.
🎥 https://t.co/CYSBIK3qHF pic.twitter.com/o71Z4InVxB— CSPAN (@cspan) June 28, 2019
Condolences to the Carter family, including their grandson, for the loss of their matriarch Rosalynn Carter.
Steph Bazzle covers politics and theocracy, always aiming for a world free from extremism and authoritarianism. Follow Steph on Twitter @imjustasteph.
