Scott Jennings, a Republican commentator for CNN, launched a blistering critique of the late Democratic ex-president Jimmy Carter, accusing him of detrimental post-presidency interference in the Middle East and even going as far as to label his actions as 'anti-Semitic.'
Jennings, a senior political commentator, expressed his condolences to the Carter family during a panel discussion on CNN News Night, moderated by Abby Phillip. However, he did not mince words when it came to his assessment of Carter's presidency and post-presidential activities. "He was obviously one of the most unique post-presidents weve ever had because he lived so long and he did so much. That having been said, he was a terrible president," Jennings stated emphatically.
Jennings, a seasoned political strategist, pointed to Carter's landslide defeat after his first term as evidence of his poor performance. He attributed this loss to widespread voter disillusionment due to rampant inflation, leading to a resounding victory for Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980. "If its possible, I think he was even a worse ex-president," Jennings added, despite many lauding Carter's post-presidency work.
According to the Daily Mail, Jennings took issue with Carter's post-presidential activities, particularly his involvement in the Middle East. Carter was a vocal critic of Israel's campaign in Gaza post-October 7 and had engaged in diplomatic talks with controversial figures such as Syria's Bashar al-Assad and members of Hamas. Jennings described these actions as 'saddling up to dictators around the world' and expressed concern over Carter's 'anti-Israel views' and alleged 'anti-Semitism.'
Carter's diplomatic visit to North Korea in 1994, following the country's expulsion of international nuclear inspectors, was another point of contention for Jennings. Despite Carter's successful negotiation with then-leader Kim Ill Sung, which potentially averted a war between the United States and North Korea, Jennings criticized Carter for acting as a private citizen, which he claimed put the Clinton administration in a difficult position.
Jennings, a former adviser to George W. Bush and Mitch McConnell, also highlighted Carter's stubbornness and unique approach to politics, which he claimed 'often vexed Democrats.' He pointed to the fact that Carter was not invited to speak at Obama's 2008 convention as evidence of this.
The conservative commentator concluded his critique by stating, "I think he was a guy who had a huge ego and believed that he was uniquely positioned to do all these things," adding that Carter's actions were a response to the American people's rejection of his leadership.
Abby Phillip, the host of the panel discussion, did not comment on Jennings' remarks. However, viewers were quick to criticize Jennings for his comments, with many deeming them inappropriate.
Despite the backlash, Jennings stood by his statements, reiterating his views on his personal X account. He described Carter as a 'terrible president' and an 'even worse ex-president,' criticizing his 'meddling in US foreign policy' and 'anti-Israel/anti-Semitic views.'
Carter's post-presidential career was marked by his founding of the Carter Center in 1983, a non-governmental organization that has addressed diplomatic and humanitarian issues for over 40 years. Carter led more than 100 trips to dozens of countries for peace talks between the centers inception and 2015. His post-presidential career was cut short by a cancer diagnosis in August of that year. He passed away at his home in Plains, Georgia.
In contrast to Jennings' critique, former President Donald Trump praised Carter, stating that the former president 'did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans.' 'For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude,' Trump added.
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