‘An extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian’: US presidents past and present remember Carter

US leaders past and present react to news that former US president Jimmy Carter, who as president brokered peace between Israel and Egypt and later received the Nobel Peace Prize for his humanitarian work, has died at age 100.

“Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian,” US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden say in a statement.

“Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well.”

US President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump likewise eulogize Carter, urging people to keep the Carter family and their loved ones “in their hearts and prayers.”

“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,” the Trump statement reads.

Former US president Bill Clinton and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton remember Carter’s humanitarian work.

“From his commitment to civil rights as a state senator and governor of Georgia; to his efforts as President to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David; to his post-Presidential efforts at the Carter Center supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity—he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world.”