Trump brother gets White House’s first funeral since JFK’s
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has held a funeral service for his younger brother at the White House – the first time the official residence has been used for such a ceremony since John F. Kennedy’s in 1963.
Robert Trump died last week, aged 71, from bleeding on the brain following a fall. Friday’s 30-minute service also marked the first time a President has held a family member’s funeral there in almost 100 years.
Mr Trump read the eulogy to 150 guests, including his daughter Ivanka, and was photographed afterwards on the White House steps with his wife Melania.
A lone bagpiper played Abide With Me, a nod to the brothers’ late mother Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born in Scotland.
Mr Trump has spoken of the bond he had with his brother, saying: ‘Robert has always been there for me. He’s my best friend.’
While several Presidents, including Mr Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln, lay in state in the East Room, the largest room in the White House, it is rare for family services to take place there.
The last ‘civilian’ honoured had been President Calvin Coolidge’s son, Calvin Jr, who died of blood poisoning in 1924, aged 16.
Historian Anita McBride said: ‘It’s clearly not something we’ve often seen. But this is their family home that we loan to them to use while they are in office. President Trump felt this was a way he could honour his brother.’
Mr Trump tweeted after the service : ‘Robert, I Love You. Rest in Peace!’
Last night it was claimed a mourner broke a waiter’s nose during a fight after the event.
According t o NBC News, a group, some still carrying the order of service, arrived at a branch of the Fig & Olive restaurant chain but were turned away because there were too many of them to ensure social distancing.
A worker alleged a waiter was punched after telling the ‘unruly group’ there was no space.
‘Somebody blindsided one of my servers, clocked him right in the nose,’ he said. ‘My server’s nose is crooked. Pretty sure the guy broke it. They didn’t apologise. He just said, “You don’t know how to speak to people”. It’s a pandemic and we are doing the best we can… Totally uncalled for.’
Police are studying CCTV footage in an attempt to identify the alleged assailant.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.