NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – President Trump told reporters Monday morning that there may be a "small" memorial service for his brother Robert, who died Saturday at 71 at a Manhattan hospital, at the White House on Friday. Robert's funeral may also be held on Friday, he said.
He made the remarks as he was preparing to take Marine One to Joint Base Andrews and then on to Minnesota.
Joe Biden sent his condolences to Trump Sunday, tweeting, "Mr. President, Jill and I are sad to learn of your younger brother Robert's passing. vI know the tremendous pain of losing a loved one — and I know how important family is in moments like these. I hope you know that our prayers are with you all."
Biden's wife Neilia and their one-year-old daughter Naomi were killed in a 1972 car accident. And his son Beau died in 2015 from brain cancer.
The president announced in a statement Saturday night, "It is with 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."
"I hope he's okay," Trump had told reporters upon his arrival at New Jersey's Morristown Municipal Airport on Friday. "He's having a tough time."
And earlier at a briefing at the White House, Trump told reporters, "I have a wonderful brother. We've had a great relationship for a long time, from day one -- that's a long time ago. He's in the hospital right now. Hopefully he'll be alright. He's having a hard time."
Trump arriving at Weill Cornell Hospital in NYC to visit his brother pic.twitter.com/rGCrXIxMOS
— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) August 14, 2020
Trump had already been scheduled to spend the weekend at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. He delivered remarks to the Police Benevolent Association.
