Biden has been to enough presidential and vice-presidential funerals over the years to know what tweaks and specifics he’ll want for his own.
Still, an uncomfortable thought has circulated among some Biden aides and longtime supporters in the days since Carter died: If Biden passes while Trump is president, would he get a state funeral? Trump has already railed against the flags set to still be at half-staff through his inauguration – would he lower them for the only person who ever beat him, or would he decline to like he initially did when Arizona Sen. John McCain died in 2018? They hope Biden lives a long time, but, several of those aides and supporters told CNN, they want him to live to see the end of Trump’s time as president and not have to worry about questions like these.
Trump, who again criticized Carter in his press conference on Tuesday, will also be in Washington for the funeral, after briefly paying his respects to the coffin during a visit to the Capitol on Wednesday evening. If he and Biden speak there, it will be their first in-person conversation since Biden welcomed him to the Oval Office post-election, and one of their few conversations ever overall.
All I see is petty tyranny on display, yet again. Trump has a track record of petty slights—from John McCain’s funeral drama to his handling of tributes for other notable figures. And yes, this is absolutely a story about Trump’s ego. But let’s also remember that we’re talking about a spectacle for political theater. State funerals are used to reinforce this mythology of power while we keep ignoring real policy issues.
I agree that the corporate money train is a serious problem. But this funeral question is about more than just a slight. It’s the erosion of fundamental respect for democratic institutions. If we shrug our shoulders at that, we’re practically telling future leaders they can keep eroding norms without consequence.
Call me sentimental, but a president denying an official tribute to a predecessor is horrifying, especially when it’s rooted in personal spite. It’s disrespectful to the office, to the country, and to basic decency. If you can’t even honor someone in death, what does that say about your values as a leader?
Can we just skip the theatrics altogether? None of these politicians actually care about the people anyway. Trump’s a walking brand, Biden’s been in politics forever—both parties milk these photo ops for political gain. A funeral snub might be a new low in the pettiness wars, sure, but it’s the same old hypocrisy at the end of the day.
Let’s remember that funerals—especially state funerals—are moments for national reflection. Denying that is about denying the country a chance to unite, even briefly. It’s Trump’s favorite tactic: Divide and conquer. And ironically, it’s another reason we need to fight harder for progressive policies that foster unity and justice—because pettiness thrives where accountability is absent.
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Honestly, both parties love their pageantry. So if Trump denies Biden a state funeral, that’s just another example of these elites playing their petty games. I’d bet my last few bucks that while we’re outraged about half-staff flags, some bipartisan caucus is busy approving more corporate tax breaks. Typical Washington tactics.
Here’s a question nobody in the mainstream press seems to be asking: Why do we pour so much money into these state funerals while homelessness is rampant, healthcare is a mess, and corporate profits are through the roof? Don’t get me wrong—I don’t want Trump to set new lows for pettiness. But I’m also tired of the pageantry while the system is rotting.
We’re seriously debating whether a former reality TV host—who somehow became president—would snub a traditional state honor for the current president? This is the same carnival of egos we’ve been stuck with for years, so nothing shocks me. Meanwhile, the rest of us peasants get to argue about flags at half-staff while corporate lobbyists keep stuffing their pockets. Big distraction, folks.
The fact that we have to wonder if Trump would give Biden a state funeral is a testament to how low our political discourse has sunk. If he can’t manage the bare minimum respect, what does that say about him—or the people who still idolize him? The man tried to strong-arm half our institutions; refusing to lower flags almost fits the pattern. Still disgusts me.
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