President Trump honored the life of Rev. Billy Graham Wednesday as he laid in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, hailing him as “legendary” and saying he lived an “extraordinary life.”
Surrounded by dozens of House and Senate lawmakers and members of Graham’s family, Trump recalled the time his father, Fred, took him and his family to see Graham preach at Yankee Stadium before 100,000 people.
“I remember that because my father said to me ‘come on son… come on mom, let’s go see Billy Graham at Yankee Stadium.’ And it was something very special,” Trump said. “Americans came in droves to hear that great young preacher.”
Trump: Billy Graham “led a nationwide revival from a large tent in Los Angeles, to 100,000 people in a single day at Yankee stadium, to more than two million people at Madison square garden” pic.twitter.com/eRL8Y7mGdA— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 28, 2018
“Fred Trump was a big fan,” Trump added.
“Today in the center of this great chamber lies legendary Billy Graham,” Trump said. “An ambassador for Christ who reminded the world of the power of prayer and the gift of God’s grace.”
Trump: “Everywhere he went, Reverend Graham delivered the same beautiful message, God loves you. That was his message. God loves you” pic.twitter.com/W4gzfxcLRu
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 28, 2018
Along with Trump, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., also spoke at the ceremony. Ryan called Graham “America’s pastor.”
Graham is only the fourth private citizen to lay in honor in the Capitol Rotunda, along with Rosa Parks (2005) and U.S. Capitol Police Officer Jacob J. Chestnut, Jr., and Detective John M. Gibson, who were shot and killed in the line of duty when an assailant attacked the Capitol.
