Tensions Resurface as Pence Reflects on Trump Handshake and Karen’s Snub at Carter’s Funeral
Mike Pence, second left, greets Melania Trump, left, as her husband President-elect Donald Trump, right, looks on at a state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter at the National Cathedral, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Washington. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times via AP, Pool)(AP)
Former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence attended the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter, marking their first in-person meeting since leaving office in January 2021. The event also saw the attendance of their spouses, Melania Trump, and Karen Pence, sparking speculation about lingering tensions from their administration.
A moment between Trump and Pence garnered attention when Pence described their interaction during an interview with Christianity Today. “He greeted me when he came down the aisle,” Pence recalled. “I stood up and extended my hand. He shook my hand. I said, ‘Congratulations, Mr. President,’ and he responded, ‘Thanks, Mike.’” Witnesses described the brief exchange as cordial, though it failed to overshadow other moments that stirred speculation.
Karen Pence notably remained seated as Trump walked down the aisle, declining to stand, shake hands, or even acknowledge Trump or Melania. Instead, she kept her gaze fixed ahead, a marked contrast to Melania Trump’s friendly greeting with former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura Bush.
When asked about his wife’s behavior, Pence offered a measured response, stating, “You’d have to ask my wife about her posture. But we’ve been married 44 years, and she loves her husband, and her husband respects her deeply.”
The incident has reignited conversations about the deep rift between Trump and Pence following the contentious 2020 presidential election. Their relationship fractured when Pence refused to support Trump’s efforts to overturn the election results, a stance that placed him at odds with Trump and his supporters.
Observers at the funeral have interpreted Karen Pence’s actions as a subtle yet significant display of unresolved tensions. Melania Trump’s demeanor, on the other hand, appeared calm and composed, as she engaged warmly with other dignitaries.
The strained dynamic between the Trumps and Pences continues to be a focal point in American political discourse, symbolizing the fallout from one of the most dramatic chapters in recent U.S. history. The Carter Memorial, meant to honor a revered former president, inadvertently became a stage for political speculation and symbolic gestures reflective of lingering divides.
