The American president-elect Donald Trump announced yesterday Tuesday that he will be present at the official funeral of the former US president Jimmy Carterwho died on Sunday, aged 100.

“I’ll be there. We are challenged,” the Republican said in response to a reporter’s question during a New Year’s Eve party at his Florida home.

However, Mr. Trump has declined to say whether he has discussed it — or not — with the family of the deceased.

The Republican billionaire, who will return to the White House on January 20, assured that he had “the greatest respect” for his Democratic predecessor, stressing that he “did everything within his power to improve the lives of all Americans.”

The former president (1979-1981) and Nobel peace laureate died on Sunday in Plains, the city where he was born, in Georgia, in the American South, with many American and foreign politicians paying tribute to him.

Outgoing President Joe Biden declared Thursday, January 9, a day of national mourning in honor of Jimmy Carter.

Official ceremonies are scheduled to begin the day after tomorrow in Plains and are set to culminate on January 9 in the federal capital of Washington.