Trump to hold brother Robert's funeral at White House today, first since Kennedy's 1963 service there
President Donald Trump will be hosting a private funeral service for his late brother Robert at the White House on Friday, August 21, it has been confirmed. Robert, 71, was the youngest sibling of the POTUS, died in New York last weekend after reportedly "suffering brain bleeds from a recent fall" — although the cause of death is yet to be confirmed.
Speaking to ABC News, insiders revealed that around 200 of Trump's family members and friends will attend the ceremony in the East Room and that his brother's body will be driven to Washington DC. That said, the funeral would be the first to be held at the White House since that of President John F Kennedy after his 1963 assassination. Meanwhile, Robert will become one of only three non-presidents to ever have their funerals held at the presidential residence.
On Monday, August 17, Trump said he was considering such a service as his brother would be "greatly honored." "We're looking at Friday," he said. "And we may do just a small service right here in the White House for my brother. We're looking at doing that. That would be, I think, a great honor to him," Trump told reporters on the South Lawn. "He loves our country — he loved our country so much. He was so proud of what we were doing and what we are doing for our country. So, I think it would be appropriate."
JFK's White House funeral was held on November 25, 1963, before he was buried in Arlington Memorial Cemetery. "Abraham Lincoln and William McKinley — also presidents who were assassinated — had services at the White House, while James Garfield lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda," according to the Daily Mirror. "While Franklin D Roosevelt, who died in office, lay in state at the White House."
That said, the last time a non-president had a funeral at the presidential residence was in 1936, following the death of Louis Howe, an adviser to FDR and his wife Eleanor. The other non-president to be honored with a private service there was Lincoln's son Willie, who died of typhoid fever aged 11 in 1862.
Trump revealed his brother's death on the evening of August 15. "It is with a heavy heart I share that my wonderful brother, Robert, peacefully passed away tonight. He was not just my brother, he was my best friend. He will be greatly missed, but we will meet again. His memory will live on in my heart forever. Robert, I love you. Rest in peace," he tweeted.
During an appearance on 'Fox & Friends' on August 17, the president opened up about the loss of his brother, saying it was "very hard." The Republican leader said his brother's demise was not a surprise "but still, when it happens, it's a very tough thing. He was a great guy. He was a tremendous guy. He was my friend. I guess they say best friend, and that's true, and, you know, losing him, not easy."
Trump fondly noted how his younger brother was his lifelong supporter. "If I had the number one show, or if I had a big success, and no matter what I did — whether it was real estate deals or anything else — he was right there and in many cases helped with whatever I did. And then when I became president he was one of the most loyal people, there was no jealousy,” he said.