ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - President Donald Trump spoke on former President Jimmy Carter during a sit-down meeting Thursday with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

On Thursday, Trump said, “Jimmy Carter died a happy man. You know why? Because he wasn’t the worst. President Joe Biden was.”

The remarks are similar to those made during Trump’s 2024 run for a second term in office.

During one of his first campaign appearances since the criminal hush money trial that ultimately ended in a conviction, Trump said, “Biden is the worst president in the history of our country, worse than Jimmy Carter by a long shot.”

“Jimmy Carter is happy because he had a brilliant presidency compared to Biden,” he added.

FULL COVERAGE: Remembering Jimmy Carter

Carter — the only U.S. president to hail from the state of Georgia — died on Dec. 29, 2024.

Carter attended Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Technology before heading to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1946. While serving in the Navy, he became a submariner and rose to the rank of lieutenant.

The 39th president served as commander in chief from 1977 to 1981, facing several challenges including foreign policy issues, a turbulent economy, and energy shortages.

After leaving office, Carter was steadfast in his commitment to humanitarian work, eradicating poverty, promoting democracy, and advocating for human rights around the world.

Shortly after Carter’s passing, then-President Joe Biden said he “embodied the very best of America.”

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