CNN political commentator Scott Jennings wasted little time in attacking former President Jimmy Carter's legacy, calling him a "terrible president" just one day after the 39th Oval Office occupant died.
"Let me preface my take by offering condolences to the Carter family on his death," Jennings said Monday night on "NewsNight with Abby Phillip." "He was obviously one of the most unique post-presidents we've ever had because he lived so long, and he did so much. That having been said, he was a terrible president.
"That's why he lost in a landslide after his one term, and if it's possible, I think he was even a worse ex-president because of his meddling in U.S. foreign policy, because of his saddling up to dictators around the world, because of his vehement views, anti-Israel views, and more than dabbling in antisemitism over the years," he continued. "He often vexed Democrats. [Former President Barack] Obama didn't even have him speak at his '08 convention. He put [former President] Bill Clinton in a terrible foreign policy box, on a North Korea nuclear issue.
"I think he was a guy who had a huge ego and believed that he was uniquely positioned to do all these things, even after the American people had roundly and soundly rejected his leadership," Jennings added. "So, I respect people who run for president and get elected president, but in his particular case, I think he, time and again, proved why he was never suited for the office in the first place.
Carter died Sunday afternoon at his home in Plains, Georgia, after spending more than a year in hospice care. He was 100 years old at the time of his death.
In a joint statement, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden said that "America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman, and humanitarian" with Carter's death.
"Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend," the statement read. "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."
Biden has scheduled a state funeral for Carter in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 9 and has declared it a National Day of Mourning across the United States.
President-elect Donald Trump also released a statement mourning Carter's death, in which he said that "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," Trump added.
Former presidents Obama, George W. Bush, and Clinton also issued statements of their own, as well as various congressional leaders.
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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