Donald Trump and Mike Pence came face-to-face for the first time in four years at the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter. The two shook hands during the ceremony, which caught the attention of many, as they hadn’t been in the same room since the end of Trump’s presidency. CNN covered the moment extensively, calling it a significant and rare event.
Four years ago, during the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, a mob of Trump supporters chanted for Pence to be hanged because he refused to support Trump’s demand to overturn the election results.
This caused a major fallout between the two. After a short meeting a few days after the attack, Trump and Pence completely distanced themselves from each other. Their handshake at Carter’s funeral was the first public interaction since those events.
CNN anchors Jake Tapper, Kaitlan Collins, Dana Bash, and John King talked about the meeting during their live coverage. Kaitlan Collins noted that this was the first time the two had even been in the same room in years. She also confirmed with aides from both sides that they had no contact during that time. Collins called it a moment you rarely see.
John King pointed out that while the event showed a rare display of unity and respect, it wouldn’t last long. He predicted that such bipartisanship would be short-lived as Trump’s influence in Washington continues to grow.
Jake Tapper highlighted the tension between Trump and Pence during their handshake. He remarked that their interaction didn’t seem warm or friendly, but the handshake was still significant because of everything that had happened between them.
The anchors also reflected on how unusual it was to see former leaders like Trump, Pence, and Al Gore coming together at the funeral. Despite their differences, they showed respect for President Carter’s legacy and the importance of the moment. However, the history between Trump and Pence made the handshake stand out as one of the most surprising parts of the day.
