Robert Trump, the younger brother to President Donald Trump, passed away over the weekend at 71 years old. The cause of death has yet to be released.
According to the Associated Press, Trump, who had previously been hospitalized for several days in June, died on Saturday in a New York hospital just one day after the President paid his ailing brother a visit.
“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,” President Trump said in a statement on Saturday regarding his brother’s passing.
“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,” the President concluded.
From President @realDonaldTrump on the passing of his brother and best friend, Robert - “We will meet again”: pic.twitter.com/1mBgx1td26
— Kayleigh McEnany (@PressSec) August 16, 2020
Evangelist and vocal supporter of President Trump, Franklin Graham, offered his condolences to the president on Twitter.
“My prayers are with President Donald Trump and the family as his brother, Robert, passed away today. The President shared that Robert was not only his brother, but his best friend. I know they would appreciate your prayers as well during this time,” Graham wrote.
My prayers are with @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and the family as his brother, Robert, passed away today. The President shared that Robert was not only his brother, but his best friend. I know they would appreciate your prayers as well during this time. https://t.co/zo8F8IyxCT
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) August 16, 2020
Born in 1948 to real estate mogul Fred Trump, Robert Stewart Trump was the youngest of five and well-known for his level-headed demeanor, particularly in business. While Trump maintained a close relationship with his brother, President Trump, many have suggested that the two had drastically different personalities.
According to the AP, President Trump himself described Robert as “much quieter and easygoing that I am.”
In his book The Art of the Deal, President Trump elaborated on his relationship with Robert writing, “I think it must be hard to have me for a brother but he’s never said anything about it and we’re very close.”
He added, “Robert gets along with almost everyone, which is great for me since I sometimes have to be the bad guy.”
After graduating from Boston University, Trump would begin his career in corporate finance on Wall Street. Eventually, however, he would join the Trump Organization, the family’s property management business, working as a top executive.
According to Esquire, Trump is survived by his second wife, Ann Marie Pallan, his brother, President Donald Trump and his sisters, Maryanne Trump Barry and Elizabeth Trump Grau.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla/Staff
Kayla Koslosky is the former Editor of ChristianHeadlines.com. She has B.A. degrees in English and History and previously wrote for and was the managing editor of the Yellow Jacket newspaper. She has also contributed to IBelieve.com and Crosswalk.com.