Obama, Trump all smiles during 'friendly' chat, candid moment stirs buzz

A rare moment of camaraderie between US President-elect Donald Trump and his predecessor Barack Obama during the state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter on Thursday set social media abuzz on Friday.

The two leaders sat side by side at the ceremony, joined by prominent figures, including President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former President George Bush, former President Bill Clinton, and former Vice President Mike Pence.

Except for Michelle Obama, who did not attend, all living former presidents and their spouses were present to honour Carter, who died on December 29 at age 100 at his home in Plains, Georgia.

Despite years of political feuding, Obama and Trump appeared at ease, shaking hands and chatting at length before the service began. They smiled and chuckled during their conversation, with Trump leaning in and listening intently to the Democrat.

The White House later confirmed that the former presidents met privately before taking their seats, though no details of the discussion were disclosed.

Several online observers speculated about the subject of the two political rivals’ conversation. Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida later, Trump addressed the viral video of their interaction.

“I didn’t realise how friendly it looked,” Trump said, as quoted by NBC News.

“I said, ‘Boy, they look like two people that like each other.’ And we probably do. We have a little different philosophies, right? But we probably do. I don’t know. We just got along.”

He added, “But I got along with just about everybody.”

The moment marked a stark contrast to the pair’s history of mutual acrimony. Trump has spread the debunked birther conspiracy theory about Obama and frequently attacked him, calling him an “ineffective” and “terrible” president.

Obama, in turn, has referred to Trump as a "78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped whining about his problems since he rode down his golden escalator nine years ago."

Funerals often serve as rare gatherings for the exclusive presidents' club, which includes former leaders who are otherwise occupied with private pursuits, charity work, and speaking engagements.