At Jimmy Carter’s state funeral on January 9, 2025, George W. Bush briefly tapped Barack Obama on the stomach while greeting him as they went to their seats. Video publishers describe the moment as a friendly greeting; the footage and reporting do not establish what the men said or what the gesture meant beyond what is visible.
What happened in the video?
The footage shows former President George W. Bush briefly tapping former President Barack Obama on the stomach during a greeting as they make their way to their seats. E! News describes the contact as a “friendly belly tap,” while Splash News describes the two men greeting each other as they go to their seats. Those are publishers’ descriptions of the visible moment, not statements from Bush or Obama.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life | $11.32 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety | $9.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Jimmy Carter: A Little Golden Book Biography | $5.32 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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The Virtues of Aging (Library of Contemporary Thought) | $7.74 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood | $9.32 | Buy on Amazon |
Watch the E! News video or watch Splash News’ video.
Where and when did it happen?
The exchange took place at the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, January 9, 2025. The cathedral’s event page lists the service for 10 a.m. Eastern.
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The funeral was the final day of state-funeral observances that ran from January 4 through January 9, according to the National Park Service’s overview.
What does the gesture mean?
The available footage establishes a brief stomach tap during a greeting. It does not verify the men’s private conversation, their intent, or a deeper meaning for the gesture. E! News characterizes it as friendly, but neither that description nor the video provides a confirmed explanation from either man.
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Why were Bush and Obama together at the service?
Bush and Obama were among the five living U.S. presidents who attended Carter’s funeral, as reported by the Associated Press and PBS News. That context explains the gathering of former and current presidents, but it does not add evidence about the tap itself.
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- Author: jimmy-carter.
- Publisher: Fisicalbook
- Pages: 288
- Publication Date: 2002
- Edition: Illustrated
