"We’ll have triplets": Trump sparks awkward moment with failed joke about his sons
Donald Trump joked about awarding himself and two of his sons the Congressional Medal of Honor while speaking at the dedication ceremony for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota on Wednesday, July 1.
During his remarks, Trump referenced General Douglas MacArthur and his father, Arthur MacArthur Jr., whom he described as one of only two father-son pairs to receive the nation’s highest military decoration. Roosevelt and his son, Theodore "Ted" Roosevelt III, also both received the honor.
Looking toward his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, who were in attendance at the ceremony, the president quipped that he was considering adding his own family to those ranks.
"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. He added that he would award one to his sons "for their genius at hunting" and said that he would receive one himself "for taking on Russia, Russia, Russia, or something."
Trump then clarified that he was joking.
"No, I’m only kidding," he said, before adding that he had "seriously thought about" his remarks. "This is dangerous to say, because the fake news is up there all over the place, and when I joke... I learned early on, don’t be sarcastic in politics."
Earlier in the day, Trump made a similar comment as he appeared at a private ceremony at the Library, where he donated Roosevelt’s actual Medal of Honor to its collection. Previously, Roosevelt’s Medal of Honor had been on display in the Roosevelt Room at the White House.
"There are very few people who have them. I want to give one to myself, but they tell me I’m not allowed to," Trump said. "My son over here, both of them, I said ’Fellas, I’d love to give one of them to me. What have I done, where I deserve it,’ and they couldn’t think of anything. So I’m not happy with them today."
The Congressional Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest award for military valor in combat, according to the official Medal of Honor website. It is presented to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who distinguish themselves "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of [their] life above and beyond the call of duty" while engaged in combat or certain qualifying military operations.
The award is subject to a lengthy review process. Recommendations must include detailed reports of the act of valor, at least two sworn eyewitness statements and additional supporting evidence before moving through the military chain of command for approval. Under federal law, recommendations generally must be submitted within three years of the qualifying act, and the medal must be awarded within five years unless Congress authorizes an exception.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Trump toured several exhibits at the Library, including displays focused on Theodore Roosevelt’s journals, a campfire exhibit, a train exhibit and an exhibit featuring an AI-powered replica of Roosevelt. He was accompanied by Burgum and Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Executive Director Robbie Lauf.
During the visit, Trump praised Roosevelt, saying, "He was a great man and it’s a great place," before adding that he was "getting some ideas" for his own presidential library.
Early plans for Trump’s proposed presidential library in Miami, released in March, include a skyscraper with the Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar displayed in the lobby and an auditorium featuring a towering gold statue of the president.
Head of Investigations
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
