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Trump Will Be Only Living President at Rev. Billy Graham's Funeral

Former president George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush on Monday visited Charlotte to pay their respects. Clinton flew into Charlotte to pay his respects on Tuesday.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Only one living U.S. president will be attending the Rev. Billy Graham's funeral this week.

While The Associated Press reported President Trump will be in attendance Friday at the Charlotte service, his predecessors will not. A spokesperson confirmed with the Citizen Times that former president Barack Obama is unable to attend the funeral, while two former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton traveled to Charlotte this week ahead of the service to pay their respects while Graham's body lay in repose.

A spokesman for former president George H.W. Bush told the Citizen Times that he and his wife, Barbara, are unable to travel to Charlotte, and a representative for former president Jimmy Carter said Tuesday that "he regrets he cannot attend."

Vice President Pence is expected to attend the funeral, Politico reported Monday.

Graham died in his sleep the morning of Feb. 21 at his home in Montreat, North Carolina. He was 99 and in his lifetime had become perhaps the most well-known evangelist in the world. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association estimates that he preached to a total of 215 million people through his crusades and other events.

Known as the pastor to the presidents, Graham met with 12 sitting U.S. presidents, from Harry Truman to Barack Obama. He participated in eight presidential inaugurations — a feat only he and a U.S. Supreme Court justice in the 1800s accomplished, the BGEA said.

Some 2,300 invitations were sent out for Graham's private funeral. His body is lying in repose for two days at the Graham Family Homeplace at the Billy Graham Library.

Former president George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush on Monday visited Charlotte to pay their respects. Clinton flew into Charlotte to pay his respects on Tuesday.

Graham's body was flown by private jet to Washington, D.C., to lie in honor Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell were part of a bicameral service when Graham's casket arrives, according to a news release.

Graham is the fourth private citizen to lie in honor at the Capitol, following Rosa Parks and two Capitol police officers who died in the line of duty. Graham's body will be guarded by an honor guard provided by U.S. Capitol Police, according to the BGEA.

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