By Stephanie Kelly
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump greeted and shook hands with his estranged former Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday as the current and former administrations gathered at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral in Washington. .
Republicans Trump and Pence have had a strained relationship since the end of Trump’s first term, which spanned from 2017 to 2021. During that time, Pence served Trump loyally, but rejected Trump’s demand to overturn his election loss from 2020 on January 6, 2021. That day, Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol, with some chanting “Hang Mike Pence.”
At Carter’s (NYSE:) funeral Thursday, Pence sat behind Trump, who was in the second row with other former presidents and first ladies, including former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Biden and Harris were in the front row.
Former Vice President Al Gore was sitting next to Pence. When Trump entered his line before the funeral, Gore stood and shook Trump’s hand and then Pence stood up. Trump extended his hand to Pence.
Trump and Pence shook hands with little expression on their faces and Pence nodded. Pence then shook hands with Trump’s wife, Melania, before everyone sat down. Pence’s wife, Karen, remained seated and did not acknowledge Trump after he shook her husband’s hand.
Trump and Obama spoke continuously before the funeral, and Obama nodded seriously in response to Trump before smiling. Former first lady Michelle Obama did not attend the funeral.
Pence did not endorse his former boss during last year’s presidential election, which Trump won over incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat.
On January 6, 2021, Pence rejected Trump’s instructions to delay or stop the certification of incumbent President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory over Trump, prompting an angry rebuke from Trump during the riot.
Pence has said his life was in danger that day and urged Republican primary voters not to choose Trump as their White House candidate last year.