It’s a weird feeling, isn't it? One day a person is the most powerful human on the planet, followed by motorcades and carrying the "nuclear football." The next, they’re just a guy in a suit trying to figure out how to write a memoir or, in some cases, how to stay out of the way of the person who replaced them. People often ask what presidents are still alive because that exclusive "Presidents Club" changes faster than we think.
Honestly, it feels like just yesterday we had six living presidents. But as of 2026, that number has shifted. History doesn't stand still, and neither does the biology of the men who have occupied 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
The Current Roll Call: Who’s Still With Us?
Right now, there are five living U.S. presidents. If you’re counting at home, that includes the current guy in the Oval Office and four former commanders-in-chief.
The most recent major change to this list was the passing of Jimmy Carter. He was a legend for many reasons, but mostly for his sheer longevity. Carter defied every medical expectation, staying in hospice care for nearly two years before passing away on December 29, 2024, just a couple of months after his 100th birthday. He was the first president to hit triple digits. Basically, he set a bar for "post-presidency life" that probably won't be cleared for a century.
So, who does that leave? Here is the breakdown:
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- Donald Trump (45th and 47th President): He’s the guy currently in the thick of it. Since he was inaugurated for his second non-consecutive term in January 2025, he’s back in the "active" category.
- Joe Biden (46th President): The man who occupied the office between Trump’s two terms.
- Barack Obama (44th President): Still the "youngster" of the group in many ways.
- George W. Bush (43rd President): Living the quiet life down in Texas.
- Bill Clinton (42nd President): The elder statesman of the Democratic party.
Joe Biden: The Oldest Living President
With Jimmy Carter gone, the title of "Oldest Living President" passed to Joe Biden. He’s 83 now. It’s kinda interesting because when he was inaugurated in 2021, he was already the oldest person to ever take the oath.
Since leaving office in early 2025, Biden has been fairly quiet, though his health has been a major topic in the news. In May 2025, it was publicly disclosed that he was battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer. He’s been receiving treatment and mostly staying at his home in Delaware. Unlike some former presidents who hit the speaking circuit immediately, Biden seems to be focusing on his family and his health.
The 1946 Club: Trump, Bush, and Clinton
There’s a bizarre historical quirk that most people don't realize. Three of our living presidents—Donald Trump, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton—were all born in the exact same year: 1946.
Think about that. They were all born in the same summer/fall of the post-WWII baby boom.
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- George W. Bush (July 6, 1946)
- Donald Trump (June 14, 1946)
- Bill Clinton (August 19, 1946)
They are all 79 or 80 years old right now. It’s like a three-way tie for the middle spot in the longevity rankings. Bush mostly spends his time painting and hanging out at his ranch in Crawford or in Dallas. He’s famously stayed out of politics since leaving office, which is a stark contrast to his peers.
Bill Clinton, on the other hand, still pops up at the Clinton Global Initiative events. He’s had some health scares over the years—quadruple bypass surgery back in 2004, stents in 2010, and a sepsis scare in 2021. But honestly, he still seems to have that itch for the policy side of things. He even released a new memoir recently called Citizen, which dives into what he’s been doing for the last 20-plus years.
The Youngest of the Group: Barack Obama
At 64, Barack Obama is practically a "kid" compared to the rest of the club. When he left office in 2017, he was only 55. He’s got decades of post-presidency ahead of him.
Obama has used that time to build a massive media presence. Between the Higher Ground production deal with Netflix and his various podcasts, he’s probably the most "culturally active" former president we’ve ever seen. He’s also the one most likely to be seen on a kite-board or vacationing with celebrities, though he still weighs in on major political moments when he feels the "Presidents Club" needs a voice.
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What Happens When the Club Meets?
It’s called the "Presidents Club" for a reason. There’s a bond there that transcends party lines, even if they can't stand each other's policies. They share a trauma, basically. Only they know what it’s like to be the one making the final call on a drone strike or a national lockdown.
The last time they were all together was for Jimmy Carter's funeral in early 2025. It’s one of the few times you’ll see Trump, Obama, Biden, Bush, and Clinton standing in a row. These events are always awkward but deeply respectful. They usually follow a strict protocol: they don't criticize the sitting president too harshly (usually), and they help each other out with library dedications or major national tragedies.
Why Do We Care Who Is Alive?
It’s about the "living tissue" of American history. When a president is still alive, that era of history still feels present. When the last person from a specific decade passes away, that era officially moves into the textbooks.
For example, when Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan were alive, the 70s and 80s felt like they were just a phone call away. Now, with Carter gone, the 1970s have effectively left the building. We are now in an era where the "living memory" of the presidency starts in 1993 with Bill Clinton.
Actionable Insights for History Buffs
If you're interested in keeping track of what presidents are still alive or diving deeper into their post-office lives, here’s how you can stay informed without getting lost in the "fake news" weeds:
- Follow the Carter Center: They are still very active even after Jimmy’s death. It’s the best way to see how a post-presidency can actually change the world (they nearly eradicated Guinea worm disease).
- Check the National Archives: Each living president has a library in progress or completed. The Biden Presidential Library plans are currently being discussed, and visiting the others (like the Bush Center in Dallas or the Clinton Library in Little Rock) gives you a much better "human" look at these men than cable news ever will.
- Read the Memoirs: If you want the real story, skip the biographies written by journalists and read the ones written by the presidents themselves. Clinton’s Citizen and Obama’s A Promised Land are the best places to start for the living group.
- Monitor the "Presidential Sites" News: Organizations like the White House Historical Association often track the health and public appearances of the former presidents with more dignity than the tabloids.
The list of living presidents is a short one, and it’s a reminder that even the most powerful seat in the world is just a temporary loan from the public.