By Stephanie Kelly
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President-elect Donald Trump greeted and shook hands on Thursday with former vice president Mike Pence, as current and former administrations gathered for 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 ran from 2017 to 2021. At that time, Pence served Trump loyally but refused Trump's request to reverse his defeat in the 2020 election on January 6, 2021. That day Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol, some chanting “Hang Mike Pence.”
On Thursday at Carter's (NYSE: ) funeral, 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 on the first list.
Former Vice President Al Gore sat next to Pence. As Trump entered his line at the front of the funeral service, Gore stood to shake Trump's hand and Pence stood. Trump extended his hand to Pence.
Trump and Pence shook hands with little expression on their faces, and Pence nodded. Pence then shook Trump's wife Melania's hand before they all sat down. Pence's wife Karen remained seated and did not acknowledge Trump after he shook her husband's hand.
Trump and Obama continued to speak before the funeral service, with Obama nodding deeply in response to Trump before breaking off. Former first lady Michelle Obama did not attend the funeral.
Pence did not endorse his former boss during last year's presidential election, in which Trump won against current Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat.
On January 6, 2021, Pence rejected Trump's orders to delay or stop the certification of 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden, blaming Trump's rebuke during the crisis.
Pence said his life was in danger that day, and urged Republican voters not to choose Trump as their White House candidate last year.