President Donald Trump opened up about his special relationship with the Rev. Billy Graham, which began as a child when his parents would take him to the famous pastor's religious crusades, he told Newsmax TV's John Bachman.
"My father used to really love going to see Billy Graham in action because there's very few people who could compete with Billy Graham. It was so many years ago, but my parents really loved going," Trump told Newsmax TV in a 2013 interview.
He also enjoyed watching the evangelist on television.
"Billy was born with the 'it factor' and very few people have that. He had it in spades and he had some special something that was given to him by God . . . so when he was on television, he really did jump right through the screen."
Graham died Wednesday at the age of 99.
Trump said he got to know the family personally through his friendship with Graham's son Franklin.
"Billy was very, very proud of Franklin always, and so that's how I got to know them. And then I went to his 95th birthday . . . and that was a very special night."
"There's never been anybody like Billy, and to be at the event was just something. I consider that likewise to be very, very special. A fantastic man, a wonderful gentleman, a tremendous heart. There will never be anybody like Billy Graham."
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