The White House News

President Biden and his wife, first lady Jill Biden, paid their respects to former first lady Rosalynn Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 96, saying in a joint statement that Carter “[inspired] a nation.”

“First Lady Rosalynn Carter walked her own path, inspiring a nation and the world along the way,” the Bidens said in a joint statement Sunday, noting the accomplishments Carter achieved through her decades of work as a humanitarian. 

“Throughout her incredible life as First Lady of Georgia and the First Lady of the United States, Rosalynn did so much to address many of society’s greatest needs,” the Bidens said. “She was a champion for equal rights and opportunities for women and girls; an advocate for mental health and wellness for every person; and a supporter of the often unseen and uncompensated caregivers of our children, aging loved ones, and people with disabilities.” 

The first couple also noted “the deep love” Carter shared with her husband, former President Carter, saying “their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism,” and they added that Carter “lived her life by her faith.” 

“Time and time again, during the more than four decades of our friendship — through rigors of campaigns, through the darkness of deep and profound loss — we always felt the hope, warmth, and optimism of Rosalynn Carter,” the Bidens added. “She will always be in our hearts.”

“On behalf of a grateful nation, we send our love to President Carter, the entire Carter family, and the countless people across our nation and the world whose lives are better, fuller, and brighter because of the life and legacy of Rosalynn Carter,” the first couple concluded in their statement. “May God bless our dear friend. May God bless a great American.” 

The Carter Center, a human rights nonprofit organization founded by Carter and her husband, announced Sunday afternoon that the former first lady passed away just after 2 p.m. Sunday at her home in Plains, Ga. Carter, who was married to her husband for 77 years, was placed in hospice care two days ago.

Talking to reporters in Norfolk, Va., Biden said that his family, including children and grandchildren, are with the former president, adding that he had been the first U.S. senator to endorse Carter. 

“I was the first person to endorse him as a U.S. senator when he ran. But he had this great integrity, he still does, and she did, too,” Biden told the reporters pool. “Imagine, they were together, what, 77 years?”

Reactions are pouring in from former U.S. presidents and first ladies over the death of former first lady Rosalynn Carter, the wife of former President Carter, with leaders paying tribute to the global humanitarian’s legacy.

Former first lady Michelle Obama, the wife of former President Obama, pointed to Rosalynn’s extensive advocacy for mental health, elderly care and women’s rights.

“Guided by her abiding faith and her commitment to service, Mrs. Carter used her platform in profoundly meaningful ways,” Michelle wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

The former first lady said Carter would sometimes meet with her at the White House during the Obama administration and offer words of advice.

“[Carter] reminded me to make the role of First Lady my own, just like she did,” Michelle wrote. “Today, Barack and I join the world in celebrating the remarkable legacy of a First Lady, philanthropist, and advocate who dedicated her life to lifting up others. Her life is a reminder that no matter who we are, our legacies are best measured not in awards or accolades, but in the lives we touch.”

Rosalynn died Sunday at the age of 96 at her home in Plains, Ga., about two days after she entered hospice care. She was diagnosed with dementia in March, shortly after her husband himself entered hospice care in February following a series of hospital stays.

Rosalynn and Carter were married for 77 years, the longest of any president and first lady. At 99, Carter is the oldest former living president in U.S. history.

Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush called Carter a woman of dignity and strength.

“There was no greater advocate of President Carter, and their partnership set a wonderful example of loyalty and fidelity,” the former presidential first couple wrote in a statement. “She leaves behind an important legacy in her work to destigmatize mental health. We join our fellow citizens in sending our condolences to President Carter and their family.”

Former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton honored Carter’s work that spread “hope, health and democracy across the globe.”

“Rosalynn Carter was a compassionate and committed champion of human dignity everywhere,” they wrote in a statement.

“Rosalynn will be forever remembered as the embodiment of a life lived with purpose,” the Clintons added. “Hillary and I are deeply grateful for her extraordinary service to our nation and world, and for more than forty years of friendship.”

Former President Trump and former first lady Melania Trump said the former first lady leaves behind a “legacy of extraordinary accomplishment and national service.”

“Melania and I join all Americans in mourning the loss of Rosalynn Carter,” Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform. “She was a devoted First Lady, a great humanitarian, a champion for mental health, and a beloved wife to her husband for 77 years, President Carter.”

Melania Trump also posted separately about her fellow first lady, writing on Truth Social, “Rosalynn Carter leaves behind a meaningful legacy not only as First Lady but as a wife and mother. We will always remember her servant’s heart and devotion to her husband, family, and country. May she rest in peace.”

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) marked the death of former first lady Rosalynn Carter in a statement, praising her years of public service and charitable work.

“Kelly and I are saddened to hear of the passing of First Lady Rosalynn Carter,” Johnson wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

“She and President Carter were an outstanding example of love and devotion to one another, and to others through their years of public service and extraordinary charitable works,” he added. “President Carter and the Carter family are in our prayers today.”

Rosalynn Carter died Sunday afternoon at 96 years old, just two days after entering hospice care. She and President Carter were married 77 years, the longest of any presidential first couple. She is survived by President Carter, who is the longest living U.S. president at 99 years old. He entered hospice in February.

Rosalynn Carter was the first presidential spouse to have her own office in the East Wing of the White House. She was a champion of mental health access and awareness and carried that mission with her even after leaving the White House and establishing the Carter Center.

Former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a statement marking the death of Rosalynn Carter on Sunday, honoring her work spreading “hope, health and democracy across the globe.”

In their statement, the Clintons thanked Rosalynn Carter for her decades of “extraordinary service to our nation and world, and for more than forty years of friendship.”

“Rosalynn Carter was a compassionate and committed champion of human dignity everywhere,” they wrote in the statement, adding later, “Rosalynn will be forever remembered as the embodiment of a life lived with purpose.”

Rosalynn Carter died Sunday afternoon at 96 years old, just two days after announcing she was entering hospice care. She and former President Carter were married 77 years – the longest of any president and first lady. She is survived by her husband, who is the oldest president who ever lived at 99 years old.

In their statement, the Clintons touted Rosalynn Carter’s work with the Carter Center and destigmatizing mental health.

“Throughout her long, remarkable life, she was an unwavering voice for the overlooked and underrepresented,” the Clintons’ statement read.

“Thanks to her mental health advocacy, more people live with better care and less stigma.  Because of her early leadership on childhood immunization, millions of Americans have grown up healthier. And through her decades of work at the Carter Center and with Habitat for Humanity, she spread hope, health, and democracy across the globe,” the statement added.

Former President Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump marked the death of Rosalynn Carter in a statement Sunday highlighting her “legacy of extraordinary accomplishment and national service.”

“Melania and I join all Americans in mourning the loss of Rosalynn Carter,” Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform. “She was a devoted First Lady, a great humanitarian, a champion for mental health, and a beloved wife to her husband for 77 years, President Carter.”

“Over a life spanning nearly a century, Rosalynn Carter earned the admiration and gratitude of our entire nation,” he wrote.

Rosalynn Carter died Sunday afternoon at 96 years old, just two days after she entered hospice care. She is survived by her husband, former President Carter, who entered hospice care in February. He is 99 years old.

The Carters and Trumps have diverged significantly on policy matters and the two presidents have exchanged barbs in the past, but President Trump’s statement struck a gracious note.

“From her days as a U.S. Navy spouse, to the Georgia Governor’s Mansion, to her tenure as First Lady of the United States, and her later work at the Carter Center and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, she leaves behind a legacy of extraordinary accomplishment and national service,” he wrote. “Our prayers are with the former president, the Carter family, and the entire community of Plains, Georgia, that she loved so much!”

Melania Trump posted separately about her fellow first lady.

“Rosalynn Carter leaves behind a meaningful legacy not only as First Lady but as a wife and mother. We will always remember her servant’s heart and devotion to her husband, family, and country. May she rest in peace,” she wrote on Truth Social.

First lady Jill Biden on Sunday remembered former first lady Rosalynn Carter for her efforts with mental health, caregiving and women’s rights while meeting with service members and their families in Norfolk, Va.

“[Rosalynn] was well known for her efforts on mental health and caregiving and women’s rights,” Biden said, standing alongside President Biden.

“So I hope that during the holidays, you’ll … include the Carter family in your prayers,” the first lady continued.

Rosalynn Carter, the wife of former President Carter, died earlier Sunday at the age of 96. The Carter Center said the former first lady passed away at her home in Plains, Ga., about two days after she entered hospice care.

Biden and the first lady were in Norfolk, Va., visiting naval installations ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday week. The president and first lady hosted an early screening for the movie “Wonka” and participated in a “friendsgiving” meal with service members and their families.

The event, with service members from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the USS Gerald R. Ford and their families, is part of the White House’s Joining Forces Initiative.

Rosalynn was diagnosed with dementia in March, around a month after her husband himself entered hospice care following a series of hospital stays.

Rosalynn Carter was known as an advocate for various humanitarian issues, notably for her efforts to improve mental health care and caregiving.

Earlier this year, President Biden, 80, revealed the former president asked him to deliver his eulogy when he dies.

“I spent time with Jimmy Carter, and it’s finally caught up with him, but they found a way to keep him going for a lot longer than they anticipated because they found a breakthrough,” Biden said at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in March. “He asked me to do his eulogy.”

Jimmy Carter, 99, was diagnosed in 2015 with melanoma that spread to his liver and brain, but by the end of the year he was cancer-free after undergoing radiation therapy and cancer immunotherapy. He is the oldest former living president in U.S. history.

The Bidens visited the Carters at their Georgia home in 2021 in a private meeting between the oldest-lived former president and the oldest serving president.

Lawmakers on both sides express their condolences on the death of Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, referring to the humanitarian activist as a “beacon of humble charity.” 

The Carter Center, a human rights nonprofit organization founded by Carter and her husband, Former President Jimmy Carter, announced Sunday afternoon that the former First Lady passed away just after 2 p.m. Sunday at her home in Plains, Georgia. Carter, 96, just entered hospice care two days ago. 

“First Lady Rosalynn Carter dedicated her life to serving others,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote in an X, a social media platform formerly known as Twitter, post on Sunday. “America has lost a passionate humanitarian and champion for people all over the world. My heart goes out to her entire family.” 

“Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter was a beacon of humble charity, kindness, and generosity that inspired our nation for generations,” Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) wrote in an X post. “I mourn her passing and the pain President Carter is feeling today. America is blessed by the Carters.” 

“First Lady Rosalynn Carter was a beacon of hope and light—using her platform for humanitarian causes to make our world a better place,” Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH.) wrote in an X post. 

“I send my heartfelt prayers and steadfast support to President Carter and the entire Carter family. May she rest in perfect peace.”

“Erika and I extend our deepest condolences to the family of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Her commitment to her philanthropic work, her beloved husband and family, and our nation was admirable,” Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) said in an X post. “May her legacy live forever and may God be near to those mourning her passing.”

“Wishing peace and comfort to former President Carter and his family,” Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said in an X post. “Rosalynn Carter was a champion for the nation and a lifelong partner in public service. May her memory be a blessing.”

“All her life Rosalynn Carter dedicated herself to serving others. As First Lady she served our country with grace and kindness,” Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) wrote in an X post, also sharing a photo he took with the Carters and late Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) “My heart is with her love of over 75 years, President Carter and their family today.” 

“Deeply saddened by the passing of Rosalynn Carter. A beloved First Lady and wonderful humanitarian, she led a life of service and compassion,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in his own statement. “May God watch over President Jimmy Carter and their family during this difficult time.”

“First Lady Rosalynn Carter devoted her entire life to our Nation. She brought compassion and grace to every issue she fought for, especially mental health advocacy,” Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA.) said in an X post. “Terese and I send our deepest condolences to President Carter and the entire Carter family.”

“Rosalynn Carter lived an incredible life that was wholeheartedly devoted to serving others,” Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) said in an X post. “She leaves behind a legacy of grace, grit, and goodwill. Our thoughts and prayers are with President Carter and their loved ones.” 

“I extend my deepest condolences to President Carter, Jack, Chip, Jeff, Amy, and the entire Carter family on their loss,” Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) said in a statement, noting the former First Lady’s achievements with her work as a humanitarian and advocate for mental health. 

“The State of Georgia and the United States are better places because of Rosalynn Carter,” Ossoff added. “I join all Georgians and Americans in mourning her loss. May Rosalynn Carter’s memory be a blessing.”