Donald Trump has sparked backlash after making an unusual comment about his ‘beautiful’ sons and a ‘threesome’ during a speech at the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota.
The moment came on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, during a visit that also saw Trump tour the newly built library, arrive aboard the so-called Freedom 250 train and take part in the opening ceremony at the Burning Hills Amphitheater.
Trump was joined at the event by his two oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, along with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and other officials.
While speaking about Theodore Roosevelt and the medal awarded to Roosevelt’s son, Theodore Roosevelt Jr., Trump shifted to a discussion of his own family after mentioning another father-son pair who received the Medal of Honor.
“Except for Arthur and Douglas MacArthur… they’re the only father and son pair to receive our nation’s highest military award for courage above and beyond the call of duty. 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,” Trump said.
The line prompted audible gasps from members of the audience before Trump continued and tried to reframe the joke.
The president added: “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.”
He then clarified that he was joking.
The remark was quickly clipped and shared online, where it drew criticism from viewers who said the joke was inappropriate, especially in the context of a ceremony honoring Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy and military service.
Some critics focused on the way Trump pivoted from a discussion of Medal of Honor recipients to a joke about his sons, while others said the comment underscored how easily his speeches can veer off script.
Elsewhere in the address, Trump praised Roosevelt in glowing terms.
Trump said Roosevelt “transformed his country by the reach of his vision into one of the greatest places, one of the greatest empires, one of the most incredible countries, ready to take its rightful place as the strongest and most respected nation anywhere in the world.”
He also took aim at political opponents, adding: “They didn’t have people that didn’t, couldn’t, they had no idea where they were. They didn’t have people that couldn’t walk up the steps, see those steps. They didn’t have people that had no idea where the hell they were.
“They didn’t have people that said, ‘Let’s have open borders, so millions and millions of people can pour into our country from prisons all over the world’. They didn’t have those people. They had strong, smart people like Teddy Roosevelt.”
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is set to officially open to the public on Saturday, July 4, as part of the broader 250th anniversary celebrations taking place across the country.
During the same visit, Trump also took part in a tour of the library and was shown an AI version of Theodore Roosevelt, part of the museum’s effort to blend historical exhibits with technology.
Trump has frequently compared himself to Roosevelt, praising the former president’s toughness, conservation legacy and larger-than-life persona.
