Trump's Medal Joke
Trump Jokes About 'Threesome' Medal of Honor for Himself, Sons at Library Event
Key Points
During remarks at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library dedication in Medora, North Dakota, President Trump quipped 'we'll have a threesome' about giving the Medal of Honor to himself and one of his two adult sons; it was noted as the second time in hours that he teased awarding the medal to himself.
Earlier in the day, Trump presented Theodore Roosevelt’s Medal to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, a moment highlighted as Burgum receiving the medal that had been in the White House collection.
Trump invoked genetics and the idea of Roosevelt and MacArthur bloodlines as he pivoted the moment toward his own sons, praising the historic families before addressing his audience.
In the same moment, he acknowledged teleprompter issues and cautioned that his quips could be misconstrued, telling the crowd that 'this is dangerous to say because the fake news is up there' and that he avoids sarcasm in politics when joking.
President Trump sparked immediate controversy on June 30, 2026, when he joked about a "threesome" involving himself and his two adult sons during the dedication of the $333 million Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota. The off-script quip came as Trump suggested awarding himself and one of his sons the Congressional Medal of Honor, the country's highest military decoration, according to Yahoo News.
Trump quickly acknowledged the remark was risky. "I said we'll have a threesome... I'm joking," he told the crowd of roughly 5,100 people. "This is dangerous to say because the fake news is up there." It was the second time in 24 hours he had floated the idea of giving himself the medal, The Independent reported.
How an Off-Script Moment Became the Story
Trump's teleprompter malfunctioned around 12:42 PM local time, pushing him into unscripted territory. He began praising historic father-son military legacies — specifically the MacArthurs, the only father-son pair to both receive the Medal of Honor. Then he gestured toward Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump sitting in the front row, according to Metro.
Trump pivoted from military history to his own bloodline, suggesting that "genetics" made his sons worthy of consideration. He then floated a triple award for himself and both sons — prompting the "threesome" quip. Some in the crowd gasped. Others laughed. Trump caught himself and warned the room his sarcasm could be taken out of context, Radar Online reported.
Roosevelt's Real Medal Was Also Part of the Day
The controversy overshadowed an otherwise historic moment. Earlier in the ceremony, Trump presented Theodore Roosevelt's actual Medal of Honor — a posthumous 2001 award that had been kept in the White House Roosevelt Room — to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. The medal will now be permanently displayed in the new North Dakota library.
The library cost $333 million total, funded by a $50 million state endowment and over $280 million in private donations. Burgum called the day a celebration of Roosevelt's "Rough Rider" spirit. Foundation leaders privately expressed concern that the "threesome" remark would eclipse the library's historic significance, according to the investigative briefing.
Veterans Groups Rebuked the Joke. Allies Shrugged It Off.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars did not find the quip funny. "The Medal of Honor is not a punchline or a family heirloom to be joked about," the VFW said in a statement. "It is earned in blood." Democratic leaders called the remarks "narcissistic" and "disrespectful" to the more than 3,500 people who have actually received the honor.
Republican allies pushed back. Senator Lindsey Graham defended Trump on Fox News, saying "anyone who can't see that was a joke is just looking for a reason to be offended." The White House Press Secretary issued a statement the following morning calling the remarks "obvious humor." Early polling showed the incident deepened partisan divisions without moving Trump's base, according to a Quinnipiac University snap poll.
The Medal Has Rules — and Presidents Cannot Self-Award
The Congressional Medal of Honor is governed by strict federal law under 10 U.S.C. § 7271. It requires "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty" in combat. There is no legal mechanism for a president to award the medal to himself or to civilian family members, the Congressional Research Service has noted.
Trump's approval rating among active-duty military stood at 42% as of a June 2026 Military Times poll — making the joke a politically sensitive one with a key constituency. Political communications expert Dr. Helen Vane told The Washington Post that Trump frequently uses the "I'm joking, but maybe I'm not" device to test public opinion while keeping a path for denial open.
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