Melania Trump joins Donald in the Capitol Rotunda to pay respects to Jimmy Carter ahead of his funeral

By JON MICHAEL RAASCH, CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER ON CAPITOL HILL, FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: | Updated:

Donald Trump arrived on Capitol Hill on Wednesday with wife Melania for meetings with Republicans and to pay their respects to Jimmy Carter.

The 78-year-old president-elect said it was ‘great’ to be back in Congress before heading into the Capitol Rotunda and for talks with the GOP.

Trump is in Washington D.C. to pay respects to the mourn the late President Carter at his funeral on Thursday. 

In just 12 days, he will take the oath of office on the steps outside the building and be sworn in, capping off a historic political comeback.

The incoming first couple walked into the Capitol Rotunda and stood by his casket for a moment of silence.

Melania, dressed in black, held her husband’s hand as they walked through Congress in front of watching reporters and photographers.

Their appearance came just hours after Capitol Police arrested a man for trying to enter the complex with a machete and three knives

Carter has been lying in state in Washington D.C. since Tuesday afternoon ahead of his state funeral.

Dignitaries from around the world, including the living former presidents, are expected to attend.

President Joe Biden, 82, in one of his last acts in office will delivery a eulogy before his trip to Rome. 

Donald Trump arrived on Capitol Hill on Wednesday with wife Melania for meetings with Republicans and to pay their respects to Jimmy Carter

The incoming first couple walked into the Capitol Rotunda and stood by his casket for a moment of silence

Trump is in Washington D.C. to pay respects to the mourn the late President Carter at his funeral on Thursday

The 78-year-old president-elect said it was ‘great’ to be back in Congress before heading into the Capitol Rotunda and for talks with the GOP

Before entering the rotunda, Trump also told reporters that he’s ‘looking’ at doing one bill versus two bills in a massive reconciliation package to fund the government and advance several of his main initiatives.

‘It doesn’t matter, we’re going to get the result’ he went on adding ‘Make American Great Again!’

His vision for a ‘big beautiful bill’ includes combining border security measures and extending the tax cuts he introduced back in 2017. 

Melania, dressed in black, held her husband’s hand as they walked through Congress in front of watching reporters and photographers

Their appearance came just hours after Capitol Police arrested a man for trying to enter the complex with a machete and three knives

Donald and Melania stand by Jimmy Carter’s flag-draped casket for a moment of reflection in the Capitol Rotunda 

‘We must Secure our Border, Unleash American Energy, and Renew the Trump Tax Cuts, which were the largest in History, but we will make it even better,’ he previously stated.

‘NO TAX ON TIPS. IT WILL ALL BE MADE UP WITH TARIFFS, AND MUCH MORE, FROM COUNTRIES THAT HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE U.S. FOR YEARS,’ he continued.

The ‘no tax on tips’ provision was a promise he made on the campaign trail.

The president-elect will begin his second term in the White House on January 20 after the GOP-controlled 119th Congress convened on Friday.

But Republicans have very little margin for error in their rowdy conference as they set out to achieve Trump’s agenda.

They hold just a three-seat majority in the Senate and will temporarily have an almost non-existent majority in the House once the president-elect takes office.

‘Republicans must unite, and quickly deliver these Historic Victories for the American People. Get smart, tough, and send the Bill to my desk to sign as soon as possible,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Read More

  • Related Posts

    Trump says Iran will ‘have to pay the price’ after ‘taking too long to negotiate a deal’

    US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US blockade of Iran is ‘the most successful in the history of naval warfare’, as he declared ‘Praise be to Allah!’ Taking…

    Trump declares Iran peace deal is OFF after taking ‘too long’ and warns they will ‘pay the price’

    Donald Trump has declared the Iran peace deal is off after they took ‘too long’ and warned they will ‘pay the price’ as they US launched strikes on 20 targets overnight.…

    You Missed

    Protester at Henry Nowak demo told police ‘come and get it’ while armed with a ‘makeshift knuckleduster’, court hears

    • By admin
    • August 2, 2026
    • 3 views
    Protester at Henry Nowak demo told police ‘come and get it’ while armed with a ‘makeshift knuckleduster’, court hears

    England fans who went to 1986 Mexico World Cup and ‘never came home’ set to be reunited at this summer’s tournament

    • By admin
    • August 2, 2026
    • 3 views
    England fans who went to 1986 Mexico World Cup and ‘never came home’ set to be reunited at this summer’s tournament

    Two dead after private Gulfstream jet crashes in Dominican Republic on the way to collect legendary MLB star

    • By admin
    • August 2, 2026
    • 3 views
    Two dead after private Gulfstream jet crashes in Dominican Republic on the way to collect legendary MLB star

    ‘Every single agency failed

    • By admin
    • August 2, 2026
    • 3 views
    ‘Every single agency failed

    At least 32 dead after huge magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes the Philippines as buildings collapse and tsunami threat sends locals racing to higher ground

    • By admin
    • August 2, 2026
    • 3 views
    At least 32 dead after huge magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes the Philippines as buildings collapse and tsunami threat sends locals racing to higher ground

    Hero teacher stabbed in neck as he protected children from knife-wielding schoolgirl: Police arrest 14-year-old suspect after two pupils were injured in classroom attack

    • By poster
    • August 1, 2026
    • 3 views
    Hero teacher stabbed in neck as he protected children from knife-wielding schoolgirl: Police arrest 14-year-old suspect after two pupils were injured in classroom attack