Robert Trump Cause of Death: What Was His Mystery Illness?

By James Mercado On Sep 14, 2023

Robert Trump, the younger brother of former U.S. President Donald Trump, died on August 15, 2020, at the age of 71. He was hospitalized in New York City with a mystery illness, and his specific health issues were not publicly disclosed. Here are some questions and answers about his cause of death and his life.

Robert Trump Cause of Death: What Was His Mystery Illness?

Robert Trump was reportedly “gravely ill” when he was admitted to the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital on August 14, 2020. His brother, Donald Trump, visited him for less than an hour that day and expressed his hope that he would recover.

However, the next day, Donald Trump announced that Robert had passed away peacefully. He did not reveal the nature of his illness but said that Robert was his best friend and that he would be greatly missed.

There was speculation that Robert Trump might have been a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had claimed more than 170,000 lives in the U.S. by August 2020. However, his cause of death was not publicly shared, and there was no confirmation that he had contracted the virus.

Did Robert Trump Have Brain Bleeds?

According to The New York Times, a family friend said that Robert Trump had been taking blood thinners after a recent fall that caused him to have brain bleeds. Brain bleeds, or hemorrhagic strokes, occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and leaks blood into the surrounding tissue.

This can damage brain cells and cause symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, weakness, confusion, vision problems, and seizures. Brain bleeds can be caused by various factors, such as high blood pressure, trauma, aneurysms, blood disorders, infections, tumors, or drug abuse.

The treatment depends on the location and severity of the bleeding and may include medication, surgery, or endovascular procedures. It is not clear when Robert Trump had the fall that led to his brain bleeds, or how severe they were. However, it is possible that they contributed to his deterioration and death.

What Did Robert Trump Do for a Living?

Robert Trump was born in Queens, New York City, on August 26, 1948. He was the youngest of five children of Fred Trump and Mary Anne MacLeod. His siblings were Maryanne, Fred Jr., Elizabeth, and Donald.

He graduated from St. Paul’s School in Garden City, Long Island, and attended Boston University, where he majored in economics and played soccer. He joined his father’s business and managed the Trump Organization’s real estate holdings outside of Manhattan.

He also served as the top executive at the Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City after the death of Mark G. Etess in a helicopter crash in 1989. He was a board member and investor of ZeniMax Media, a video game company that published popular titles such as Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Doom, and Wolfenstein.

His role at the company was highlighted by media outlets in 2018 when his brother linked video games to violence and met with industry chiefs. He was also the president of Trump Management, a business owned by the Trump siblings that handled their inheritance from their father’s estate.

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How Did Robert Trump’s Family React to His Death?

President Trump paid a visit to his ailing brother, Robert, on August 14. The POTUS was at Manhattan’s NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for less than an hour that Friday. “I have a wonderful brother,” Donald Trump said at a news conference held at the White House. “We’ve had a great relationship for a long time, from Day 1.”

“It is with heavy heart I share that my wonderful brother, Robert, peacefully passed away tonight,” President Trump said in a statement on August 15. “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.

Meanwhile, Ivanka Trump posted a tribute to her uncle via Twitter late Saturday night. “Uncle Robert, we love you. You are in our hearts and prayers, always,” she tweeted.

Uncle Robert, we love you. You are in our hearts and prayers, always.

— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) August 16, 2020

Eric Trump tweeted a post. “Robert Trump was strong, kind, and loyal to the core,” he tweeted. “Anyone who encountered him felt his warmth immediately.”

Robert Trump was an incredible man – strong, kind and loyal to the core. Anyone who encountered him felt his warmth immediately. He will be deeply missed by our entire family.

— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) August 16, 2020

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden offered his heartfelt condolences via Twitter to the Trump family on August 16 upon learning of Robert Trump’s death. “Mr. President, Jill and I are sad to learn of your younger brother Robert’s passing,” Biden wrote. “I 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.”

Did Robert Trump Have a Stroke?

Back in June, Robert spent over a week at Manhattan’s Mount Sinai Hospital in the neurosciences intensive care unit, The Daily Beast reported. The reason for his staying there isn’t publicly known. Mount Sinai’s website explains the unit treats “patients who suffer from subarachnoid hemorrhage, acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, subdural hematomas, coma, tumors of the brain and spine, severe or prolonged seizures, neuro-infections, spinal cord injury among others.”

The New York Times reported that a family friend said Robert Trump had been taking blood thinners “after a recent fall” caused him to have “brain bleeds,” a term that Harvard Medical School describes as being associated with a “hemorrhagic stroke.” A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding tissue. This can cause brain damage, disability, or death.

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