Donald Trump announced he will attend the funeral of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 100.

“I’ll be there. We’ve been challenged,” the Republican said in response to a reporter’s question during a New Year’s celebration at his Florida residence.

However, the president-elect avoided revealing whether he had discussed it with the family of the deceased.

The Republican billionaire, who will return to the White House on January 20, assured that he had “the utmost 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 Prize laureate passed away Sunday in Plains, his hometown in Georgia, in the American South, with many American and foreign politicians paying tribute to him.

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

Formal ceremonies are scheduled to begin the day after tomorrow, Saturday, January 3, in Plains and are to culminate on January 9 in Washington, D.C.