Former President Jimmy Carter reached his 100th birthday today, the first time any American president has reached the milestone. Revered by many for his commitment to good works, President Carter’s unlikely political rise is an inspiration. By living the last 19 months in home hospice care, the former president has continued to inspire by defying expectations and beating the odds.
Donald Trump hasn’t displayed the same reverence or respect for the first president to live to be 100 years old. Instead, Trump has spent the last year mocking President Carter whenever he could.
During a Commit to Caucus rally in Iowa earlier this year, Trump mentioned his wife attended the funeral of late First Lady Rosalynn Carter — and then immediately mocked President Jimmy Carter’s legacy as president. Trump said that Carter, who is in hospice, must be a “happy man.” The very next day, hours after more than half of Republican caucus voters delivered a statewide victory for Trump, he again mocked the legacy of the former president and disrespected the memory of the late First Lady.
The Carters aren’t the only American heroes Trump has mocked or baselessly attacked. Earlier this year, Trump mocked late Senator John McCain’s injury, which he sustained as a prisoner of war. Trump’s cruel comments sparked responses from the former senator’s wife, Cindy McCain, and daughter, Meghan McCain.
“It’s hard to imagine anyone could do anything but celebrate President Carter and be inspired by the resilience he’s shown over the last 19 months, but this guy, Donald Trump, is a bully who only cares about himself. He doesn’t care who he insults, disrespects, or offends as long as he gets his way in the end,” said American Bridge spokesperson Brandon Weathersby. “Nothing is sacred or off-limits for Trump. Not former presidents, not Arlington National Cemetery, not American icons, not even some of our most decorated veterans, or the memories of our war heroes. Trump doesn’t believe in respecting norms or traditions and isn’t concerned with uniting the country under a shared, positive vision for the country. He’s only interested in gaining power and abusing it to serve himself. Someone who thinks that a former president living in home hospice care is the perfect 100-year-old punching bag shouldn’t be the president.”
Published: Oct 1, 2024