WASHINGTON — Rising up in Queens, Robert S. Trump realized to outlive within the shadow of a rambunctious older brother, Donald, who monopolized co
WASHINGTON — Rising up in Queens, Robert S. Trump realized to outlive within the shadow of a rambunctious older brother, Donald, who monopolized consideration. In maturity, his older brother was his boss on the Trump Group. And close to the tip of his life, he grew to become his older brother’s defender, becoming a member of him in publicly excoriating their niece, Mary, who had written a memoir about life inside a household she characterised as chilly and merciless.
On Friday, President Trump repaid Robert, the brother who had all the time been loyal, by internet hosting a funeral within the East Room of the White Home. Robert Trump died final week in New York at 71. The White Home didn’t give a trigger.
It was the primary time a president has held a funeral for a member of the family in almost 100 years, in line with the White Home Historic Affiliation. Mr. Trump delivered the eulogy, which lasted about 10 minutes. The visitor record was restricted to about 150 individuals, together with the president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., and his girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle, in addition to an prolonged community of kin.
Different visitors included Consultant Peter T. King, Republican of New York, who posted his invitation on Twitter. Vice President Mike Pence and Rudolph W. Giuliani, the previous mayor of New York, additionally attended.
Company didn’t put on masks on the funeral, however they got coronavirus checks beforehand on the Trump Worldwide Lodge.
The White Home declined to touch upon particulars as a result of it was a non-public service, though Mr. Trump ultimately allowed reporters to view a part of the closing funeral procession. The president, accompanied by the primary woman, Melania Trump, and adopted by his youthful sister, Elizabeth Trump Grau, trailed pallbearers down the steps of the North Portico because the hymn “Abide With Me” was performed on bagpipes. A number of of Mr. Trump’s different youngsters, together with Barron and Ivanka, regarded on.
The president’s allies mentioned they weren’t shocked that Mr. Trump selected to host his brother’s funeral on the White Home.
“Robert Trump, alongside together with his spouse, Ann Marie, had been allies, supporters and defenders of President Trump,” mentioned Mr. Bolling, who was invited however unable to attend the service.
Robert and Ann Marie Pallan had been married this 12 months, greater than a decade after he ended his marriage to Blaine Trump. They lived on Lengthy Island, the place Robert was typically seen at native bars boasting about his brother.
The president was keenly conscious of the accolades. “He was my largest fan,” Mr. Trump mentioned on “Fox & Pals” this week. “Folks would inform me on a regular basis, ‘I spoke to your brother and your brother was so thrilled.’ And so thrilled at what was occurring.”
In “Too A lot and By no means Sufficient: How My Household Created the World’s Most Harmful Man,” Mary L. Trump, a scientific psychologist and Mr. Trump’s solely niece, recounts how the 2 brothers labored collectively in an effort to chop her inheritance and well being advantages from a household belief. Ms. Trump, the daughter of Fred Trump Jr., Mr. Trump’s older brother who died in 1981, describes Robert Trump because the enforcer.
Robert defended his brother in July, when Ms. Trump’s guide was revealed.
“I and the remainder of my total household are so pleased with my fantastic brother, the president, and really feel that Mary’s actions are actually a shame,” Robert Trump mentioned in a press release.
Whereas a number of presidents, from Kennedy to Lincoln, have lain in state within the East Room, the most important room within the White Home, it’s uncommon to have a funeral there for a president’s relative.
White Home officers mentioned that Mr. Trump would pay for the funeral bills, and that his brother’s physique was pushed from New York for the funeral on Friday.
“It’s clearly not one thing we’ve seen typically,” mentioned Anita McBride, a board member of the White Home Historic Affiliation and the chief of employees to Laura Bush when Mrs. Bush was first woman. “However that is their household dwelling that we mortgage to them to make use of whereas they’re in workplace.”
Most funerals on the White Home for first members of the family have been for youngsters. Amongst them had been Calvin Coolidge Jr., President Calvin Coolidge’s son who died at 16 in 1924 of a blood an infection brought on by a blister on his foot, and Willie Lincoln, President Abraham Lincoln’s son who died at 11 in 1862 of typhoid. Willie Lincoln was embalmed within the Inexperienced Room and his funeral service was held within the East Room. Ms. McBride famous that though Robert Trump didn’t reside within the White Home, “President Trump felt like this was a manner he may honor his brother.”
The president’s personal feedback in regards to the service had been transient. “Robert, I Love You,” he wrote on Twitter. “Relaxation in Peace!”
Katie Rogers reported from Washington, and Maggie Haberman from New York.