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Evening Report

Thursday, Jan. 9

© Greg Nash

DC unites for Carter farewell, but tough battles ahead

THE POLITICAL BATTLES IN WASHINGTON paused for a moment on Thursday, as past, current and future presidents came together to honor the life of former President Jimmy Carter.

President Biden eulogized the “great American” at the National Cathedral, saying Carter’s life was filled with “faith, hope and love,” both in the White House and as a citizen during his post-presidency.

“Today, many think he was from a bygone era. But in reality, he saw well into the future,” Biden said.

“Through it all, he taught us how character and faith start with ourselves and flow to others,” he added.

The gathering produced some striking images, with Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump seated together in the same row.

There was some playful banter among the exclusive group, but also some icy moments between them:

• Obama and Trump shared a laugh as they huddled in conversation.

• Bush playfully tapped Obama on the stomach as he passed by.

• Biden and Vice President Harris did not shake hands. Harris later looked back at Obama and Trump as they were engaged in conversation, before returning her gaze to the front.

• Former Vice President Mike Pence shook Trump’s hand, but his wife Karen Pence ignored him.

• Biden, who defeated Trump in 2020, sat in the front row next to Harris, who lost to Trump in 2024. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump in 2016, sat next to her husband on the same row as Trump.

Also in attendance:

• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who recently announced his resignation and has been feuding with Trump.

• Seven of the nine Supreme Court Justices were on hand, with only Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch absent.

Biden announced Thursday will be a national day of mourning, with federal offices, banks, the stock market and Postal Service closed.

Carter’s body will be taken this evening from the National Cathedral to its final resting place in Plains, Ga.

UNITY WON'T LAST LONG

Congress will get back to business in the coming days, with battles over Trump’s agenda and Cabinet picks, as well as a House-passed immigration bill, taking center stage.

Trump met with Senate GOP leaders on Wednesday, and he'll hold a series of meetings with House Republicans on Friday that continue through the weekend.

The president-elect will host GOP governors at his Mar-a-lago estate this evening.

The big question: Are Republicans in the House and Senate on the same page about how best to pass the Trump agenda?

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has talked about passing two bills that break out Trump's immigration and economic policy initiatives, while House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has said Trump is pushing him for “one big, beautiful bill.”

“Whether it’s one bill or two bills, it’s going to get done one way or the other,” Trump told reporters.

“I think there’s a lot of talk about two, and there’s a lot of talk about one, but it doesn’t matter. The end result is the same,” he said.

The Hill’s Al Weaver reports that Trump privately pushed GOP senators to rally behind a one-bill strategy.

HOW WILL DEMOCRATS ADDRESS IMMIGRATION?

An upcoming vote in the Senate on the Laken Riley Act will be a temperature check for Democrats on how they plan to address border security and immigration after an election cycle where they struggled to align with public opinion.

The law, which is named after the Georgia nursing student who was murdered by an illegal immigrant with a criminal record, would require those in the country illegally who have been accused of theft, burglary or shoplifting to be detained.

The Hill’s Sarah Fortinsky

© The Hill