Donald Trump in mourning: his younger brother, Robert Trump, has died

Steph Deschamps / August 17, 2020

Robert Trump, younger brother of United States President Donald Trump, died in New York on Saturday at the age of 71, the president said in a statement.

It is with a heavy heart that I announce that my wonderful brother, Robert, died peacefully last night, "said Mr. Trump in a statement issued by the White House. "He wasn't just my brother, he was my best friend," writes the president. “I will miss him a lot but we will see each other again. Her memory will always live in my heart. Robert, I love you. Rest in peace.

Robert Trump had been admitted to a New York hospital, and US media reported that he was seriously ill, without details of the nature of his illness.

The president had visited his brother in the hospital on Friday for about 45 minutes. He had only told the press that his brother was going through "a difficult time ».

According to a family friend who spoke to the New York Times on condition of anonymity, Robert recently suffered from brain hemorrhages following a fall and in recent weeks his health has deteriorated to the point that he couldn't talk on the phone anymore.

Although much less famous than his brother, Robert Trump, born in 1948, has long been an integral part of the family real estate empire and he was absolutely loyal to the president, though their relationship had been one of ups and downs. low.

He had tried unsuccessfully to have the courts banned the publication of a book by his niece Mary Trump describing Donald Trump as the product of a "toxic" family. Robert Trump considered that this book was "a shame" and had obtained a temporary block of its publication, but a judge had lifted this block in July.

Donald Trump had often called his brother wonderful, saying they had a great relationship from day one.

Ivanka Trump, daughter and adviser to the president, said on Twitter on Saturday: Uncle Robert, we love you. You are in our hearts and in our prayers, always.