Robert Trump, the younger brother of President Donald Trump, died Saturday night. He was 71.
“It is with heavy heart I share that my wonderful brother, Robert, peacefully passed away tonight,” the president wrote. “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,” the president said.
From President @realDonaldTrump on the passing of his brother and best friend, Robert – “We will meet again”: https://t.co/1mBgx1td26
— Kayleigh McEnany (@Kayleigh McEnany)1597546463.0
Robert’s death came just 11 days before his 72nd birthday. The reason for his hospital stay was not made public.
Trump made the last minute decision to visit his brother at a New York hospital on Friday where Robert was reportedly “very ill.”
After his visit, Trump told reporters, “Hopefully he’ll be alright, but he’s — he’s pretty — he’s having a hard time,” CNN reported.
Earlier this summer, Robert spent more than a week in the ICU unit at New York City’s Mt. Sinai hospital, Fox News reported. The reason for Robert’s extensive hospital stay was not disclosed.
Robert was the youngest of the five Trump children and, like his older brother, spent his career working for the Trump Organization. However, unlike his older brother, Robert often stayed out of the public spotlight, especially in recent years, describing himself as “gainfully retired.”
Robert, however, was recently thrust back into the national spotlight when he asked a court to stop the publication of a book by his niece, Mary Trump. The effort ultimately failed, and Mary’s book was allowed to be published.