CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- President Trump will be in Charlotte to attend the Reverend Billy Graham's funeral next Friday, according to Graham Family spokesman Mark DeMoss.
Last week, the Secret Service said it was preparing for Trump to attend the service. Those preparations started Wednesday and “came into place quickly” according to a Secret Service public affairs representative who deferred NBC affiliate WYFF to the White House for confirmation of the President’s visit.
The president’s secret service detail would coordinate with the field office in Charlotte along with state and local law enforcement if he is to attend. The president’s detail would also coordinate with the details of former presidents if they confirm they’re going as well.
NBC Charlotte has confirmed President and Mrs. George H. W. Bush will not attend the funeral. President and Mrs. George W. Bush will not attend the funeral, but will be in Charlotte Monday to pay their respects to Rev. Graham.
Graham died in his sleep from natural causes at 7:46 a.m. Wednesday at his home in Montreat, N.C. A private funeral will be held Friday, March 2 under a tent outside the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte.
The body of Rev. Graham will lie in repose in a closed casket at the Billy Graham Library on Monday, February 26 and Tuesday, February 27 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
House Speaker Paul Ryan announced Thursday Rev. Graham will be brought to the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, February 28, where he will lie in honor in the Rotunda until Thursday, March 1.
