Former US President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100, as confirmed by the centre he founded.
The former peanut farmer lived longer than any president in history, celebrating his 100th birthday in October. The Carter Center, which advocates for democracy and human rights worldwide, announced that he passed away on Sunday afternoon at his home in Plains, Georgia.
Carter, a Democrat, served as president from 1977 to 1981 during a time marked by both economic and diplomatic crises. After leaving the White House with low approval ratings, he restored his reputation through humanitarian work, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize. His son, Chip Carter, released a statement saying, “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.”
Before his presidency, Carter was the governor of Georgia, served as a lieutenant in the US Navy, and worked as a farmer. He is survived by his four children, 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. His wife, Rosalynn, to whom he was married for 77 years, passed away in November 2023.
Since the death of George H.W. Bush in 2018, Carter was the oldest surviving US president. He stopped receiving medical treatment for an undisclosed illness last year and began hospice care at home.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden stated that the world has “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman, and humanitarian.” They described Carter as “a dear friend” and emphasised his principles, faith, and humility, adding, “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honourable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.”
President-elect Donald Trump also acknowledged Carter’s presidency on social media, writing, “The challenges Jimmy faced as president came at a pivotal time for our country, and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.”
Carter’s presidency was defined by various economic challenges and significant foreign policy issues, including the Iran hostage crisis, which resulted in the deaths of eight Americans. However, he achieved notable success in foreign policy by brokering the Camp David Accords, which established peace between Egypt and Israel in 1978. This achievement seemed overshadowed two years later when voters overwhelmingly chose Republican Ronald Reagan, who criticised Carter as a weak leader during a period of high inflation and interest rates.
In the 1980 election, Carter suffered a landslide defeat, winning only six US states plus Washington, D.C. Following this heavy loss, Republicans often cited Carter as an example of liberal ineptitude, while many within his party viewed his presidency as evidence that their brand of Democratic politics was preferable.
Over the decades, although some on the right still critique the Carter years, his humanitarian efforts and simple lifestyle have shaped a new legacy for many Americans. After leaving the White House, he became the first and only president to return full-time to the house he lived in before politics, a modest two-bedroom ranch-style home.
Carter chose not to pursue lucrative after-dinner speeches and publishing deals that many former presidents sought, stating in a 2018 interview with the Washington Post that he never really wanted to be rich. Instead, he dedicated his later years to addressing global issues of inequality and disease.
He also partnered with Nelson Mandela to found The Elders, a group of global leaders committed to working on peace and human rights. When he accepted his Nobel Prize in 2002—making him only the third US president to receive this honour—he expressed concern over “the growing chasm between the richest and the poorest people on Earth.”
In a statement, former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton, acknowledged his tireless efforts for a better and fairer world, highlighting his humanitarian, environmental, and diplomatic work. They noted, “Guided by faith, President Carter lived to serve others until the very end.”
Former President Barack Obama praised Carter’s “decency” and remarked, “He taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice, and service.” Republican former President George W. Bush stated that Carter “dignified the office” and that “his efforts to leave behind a better world didn’t end with the presidency.”
President Biden announced that a state funeral would be held in Washington, D.C.