Aides to President Biden are reportedly concerned about what will happen if he passes away while Donald Trump is in the White House. Particularly whether or not Trump will authorize a state funeral in his honor.
A report from CNN details in-depth the thought process of the current president as he confronts his own mortality, seeing exactly how a funeral for a former president is conducted in the wake of the passing of Jimmy Carter.
Like most presidents, the outlet notes that Biden has already approved a plan for his own services. However, concern has seeped in that Trump, who is just days away from being inaugurated for a second term, would eschew decorum.
“Still, an uncomfortable thought has circulated among some Biden aides and longtime supporters in the days since Carter died: If Biden passes while Trump is president, would he get a state funeral?” they write.
“They hope Biden lives a long time, but, several of those aides and supporters told CNN, they want him to live to see the end of Trump’s time as president and not have to worry about questions like these.”
“An uncomfortable thought has circulated among some Biden aides and longtime supporters in the days since Carter died: If Biden passes while Trump is president, would he get a state funeral?” https://t.co/RCa0qYtpAT
— Nick Field (@nick_field90) January 9, 2025
Validating their concerns, the aides reference Democrats’ absolute delight that Carter’s passing means flags will be set at half-staff through President-elect Trump’s inauguration, something he has voiced dismay over.
They also note that Trump initially did not lower flags to half-staff at the White House to honor John McCain after his death in August 2018.
Considering their cordial meeting at the White House in November, it seems unlikely that Trump would refuse to honor Biden’s wishes. Despite the fact that Biden’s administration did their absolute best for years to put him in jail.
Not to mention, it seems more like a case of projection. Is there any doubt President Biden and his aides would have refused to honor Trump had he unfortunately passed while Joe and Kamala were in office?
Jimmy Carter’s Death Prompts the Question: What Happens When a President or Former Dies?
Recall, if you will, that congressional Democrats in 2021 introduced a bill that would ban former President Donald Trump from being buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
The legislation – H.R.484 or the “No Glory for Hate Act” – was sponsored by Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-CA) and co-sponsored by 13 additional Democrats, including newly minted Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and former congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA).
It is designed specifically to prevent “the interment or inurnment in Arlington National Cemetery of any former President that has been twice impeached by the House of Representatives.”
Weird. He should have a special plot, considering he’s also the only twice-acquitted former President.
Sánchez wanted to take things a step or two further, declaring in 2023 that the legislation would also prevent Trump from being honored with statues or buildings in his name.
Not even a park bench.
Sánchez claimed Trump “fueled falsehoods, promoted racism and hatred, and eventually ignited the events of January 6th.”
“We should never glorify the hatred Donald Trump personified as president,” she added. “This bill ensures that there is no glory for hate – not a building, statue, or even a park bench.”
It also sought to restrict Trump’s pension and staff. Think about that for a minute: they wanted to restrict staff, which would no doubt include Secret Service protection. Trump would later become the target of two failed assassination attempts.
The “No Glory for Hate Act” was reintroduced by Sánchez in 2023, where it died a miserable death in Congress.
Biden’s aides fretting over Trump not honoring him in death rings hollow when you look at what Democrats have done to the 47th President through the past decade.
Trump has never really expressed a desire to be buried in Arlington. A 2015 Wall Street Journal mentions he may want to be buried at one of his golf courses in New Jersey.
