Trump Celebrates Teddy Roosevelt Legacy at New Library Opening
WHO:
AP News - President Trump visited the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
AP News - Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, a former governor of North Dakota, was present during the visit.
AP News - The library's executive director is Robbie Lauf.
WHAT:
AP News - Trump compared himself favorably to Roosevelt, stating, “He had a freakin’ wild life. He didn’t want to be quiet. He wanted to be great.”
AP News - Trump made the trip aboard his new Air Force One, a Boeing 747 given to the United States by Qatar.
Fast Company - The library covers about 95,000 square feet on a 93-acre site and was designed to meet the standards of the Living Building Challenge, focusing on environmental sustainability.
Fast Company - The library features a mile-long boardwalk trail that leads visitors into a restored grassland with more than 60 species of native plants.
Fast Company - The library includes “adventure galleries” designed to provide interactive and immersive exhibitions of Roosevelt’s life experiences.
Fast Company - The library's design was influenced by the surrounding landscape, capturing views of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Little Missouri Valley.
AP News - Trump toured the 96,000-square-foot library and delivered a speech praising Theodore Roosevelt.
AP News - Trump announced a $750,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support the library's first year.
NY Post - Trump interacted with an AI-powered hologram of Theodore Roosevelt during his visit.
NY Post - Trump asked the AI Roosevelt if the Panama Canal was his greatest achievement.
WHERE:
AP News - The event took place in Medora, North Dakota, at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
AP News - The library is located in the Badlands, a region associated with Roosevelt's conservation values.
WHEN:
AP News - The official opening of the library is scheduled for July 4th, coinciding with celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
WHY:
AP News - Trump expressed admiration for Roosevelt, calling him the embodiment of the American spirit and praising his leadership qualities.
AP News - The library aims to showcase Roosevelt's ideas and artifacts, including his contributions to conservation.
HOW:
AP News - The library was built as a $450 million project, with funding from private donations totaling about $354 million as of early 2026.
AP News - The library will feature artifacts such as Roosevelt's Rough Riders uniform and his 1884 diary.
(UPDATED July 2, 2026 11:49 UTC)
Trump recently compared himself to Roosevelt, saying, “He had a freakin’ wild life. He didn’t want to be quiet. He wanted to be great.” He made this statement while traveling on his new Air Force One, a Boeing 747 gifted to the United States by Qatar. Meanwhile, a new library dedicated to Roosevelt is set to open, covering about 95,000 square feet and featuring interactive galleries, a mile-long boardwalk trail, and a design that harmonizes with the stunning views of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
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(UPDATED July 2, 2026 06:19 UTC)
President Trump visited the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, where he toured the impressive 96,000-square-foot facility and delivered a speech praising Theodore Roosevelt as the embodiment of the American spirit. During his visit, Trump announced a $750,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support the library's first year and even interacted with an AI-powered hologram of Roosevelt, asking if the Panama Canal was his greatest achievement. The library, which aims to showcase Roosevelt's ideas and artifacts, including his Rough Riders uniform and 1884 diary, officially opens on July 4th, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.