Full Breakdown
Trump’s “Threesome” Remark at Theodore Roosevelt Library Dedication
7/2/2026, 5:14:30 AM
Medal of Honor Quip
At the dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, President Donald Trump joked about awarding the Congressional Medal of Honor to himself and his two eldest sons, Eric and Donald Jr., saying they would form a “threesome” of medal recipients.
Context and Medal of Honor History
The privately funded library honors the 26th president and is not part of the National Archives’ 16 official presidential libraries. Trump presented Roosevelt’s original Medal of Honor to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. The only father-son pair historically to receive the Medal of Honor are Arthur and Douglas MacArthur.
Principal Figures
President Donald Trump, his sons Eric and Donald Jr., Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and the historical Medal of Honor recipients Arthur and Douglas MacArthur.
Data and Statistics
The ceremony took place on July 1, 2026. The library is the 26th presidential library but is not part of the National Archives’ 16 official libraries. Trump arrived on a Freedom 250-themed train accompanied by Rough Rider-style horseback riders.
Official Statements
Trump described the “threesome” comment as a joke, emphasizing he was “only kidding.” He noted a teleprompter failure, saying his “teleprompters had stopped working.” He also recounted a police officer’s alleged gratitude for a claimed 84 % rise in the officer’s 401(k).
Criticism and Opposition
Audience members gasped and laughed; Trump’s sons later said they could not identify any deed that would merit the Medal of Honor. Commentators described the remark as inappropriate for a military award and cited prior controversies over Trump’s remarks about his children.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
Sources note that the library is not an official National Archives presidential library, a point sometimes omitted in coverage. The police-officer anecdote is presented only as Trump’s claim, with no independent verification. Details of the teleprompter malfunction are not corroborated.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Now, as I see my two beautiful sons sitting there, I think I'm going to give one to myself, one to them, and we'll have a threesome,” he joked.” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “Ok, I'll pick out one of the two. I'll give them the Congressional Medal of Honor for something for their genius at hunting, and I'll get one for taking on Russia, Russia, Russia, or something, and we'll have a third pair now,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “You know, I want to give one to myself, but they tell me, and I'm allowed to,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States
- “Well, my 401(k) is up 84%.” — Police officer (as recounted by Donald Trump)
What's Next
Trump said he was “getting some ideas” for his own presidential library, planned for Miami.
