I hate joint trusts.

You need to read the trust document. What happens upon the first to die? When were distributions made? To whom?

"all of his assets flowed directly to his wife" Probably not if they were in the trust.

A trust return is not the same as an estate income tax return. Although sometimes a trust can elect to be part of the estate. These are 1041s, not 1040s.

A 2024 1040 is also needed to report income while they were alive.

Died in March of what year?  If 2024, then income through date of wife's death goes on final 1040, income after that date goes on a 1041 return. Generally speaking.  Every trust is different, except for the ones that are all alike because they use the same boilerplate language from a paper mill.   

@sjrcpa If you don't like joint trusts, you're lucky you don't live in a community property state.  I don't like people who bring their separate trusts from common-law states.  Or, more often, all of the property is just in the husband's trust.  

@BobKamman Yes they probably are fine in community property states.