Trump sees bond with ‘great he-man’ Theodore Roosevelt at lavish library opening | Donald Trump
US politics | The Guardian — 2026-07-01 19:41:00 — www.theguardian.com
Donald Trump Downplays Roosevelt’s Conservation Legacy, Makes Dubious Claims at North Dakota Library Dedication
Donald Trump, speaking at the dedication of a $450 million library and museum honoring Theodore Roosevelt in Medora, North Dakota, delivered a speech that drew sharp contrasts with the 26th president’s environmental achievements while making several questionable claims and exaggerations about both his own record and Roosevelt’s.
Trump’s Remarks and Historical Distortions
During his address, Trump focused on Roosevelt’s legacy, stating, “I’m honoring Theodore Roosevelt – that is, the man I have long admired. I don’t admire too many people, I have to tell you – not a lot of people out there.” He praised Roosevelt as “a great he-man” and “a proud man,” and attempted to draw parallels between himself and Roosevelt, both privileged New Yorkers accused of imperialism and warmongering.
However, Trump notably downplayed Roosevelt’s renowned conservation efforts. While the nearby museum highlighted Roosevelt’s record of busting 44 trusts and protecting 230 million acres of land, Trump and North Dakota’s Doug Burgum, who have both sought to roll back protections for wildlife and public lands, gave little attention to this aspect of Roosevelt’s presidency. Instead, Trump told the audience, “He did some incredible things – a lot of people will say the parks; people point to different elements of his success. Incredible. But he built the Panama canal.” This statement misrepresents Roosevelt’s role, as the construction of the Panama Canal was a complex international project, and Roosevelt did not personally “build” it.
False Claims and Exaggerations
Trump also repeated a misleading claim about the Panama Canal, recalling a conversation with a digitally animated Roosevelt: “How do you feel about the fact that the Democrats gave the Panama canal away for one dollar to Panama?” This assertion distorts historical facts. The transfer of the Panama Canal to Panama was negotiated and signed by President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, but the process was the result of decades of international diplomacy and was not a simple “giveaway” for one dollar.
In another exaggeration, Trump insisted, “I’m proud that two years ago we had a country that was a laughing stock all over the world, and now we have the hottest, most respected country anywhere in the world.” This sweeping claim is not supported by international opinion data, which has shown fluctuating views of the United States during Trump’s tenure.
Trump’s Legacy and Response to Criticism
Now in his second term, Trump appears increasingly preoccupied with his own legacy. He previewed plans for his own presidential library in Miami, stating, “We’re going to build a museum in Miami – they gave me a lot of ideas.” Trump also cited other presidents he admires, including Andrew Jackson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Abraham Lincoln, and Dwight Eisenhower, but continued to focus on Roosevelt as a model.
Despite the patriotic pageantry and attempts to link himself to Roosevelt, critics and historians have pointed out the stark differences between the two men, especially on environmental issues. Roosevelt’s famous quote, “Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president,” was left unaddressed by Trump, who has often equated loyalty to the country with loyalty to himself.
Conclusion
Trump’s speech in North Dakota was marked by historical distortions, exaggerations about his own record, and a conspicuous omission of Roosevelt’s environmental legacy. As Trump seeks to shape his place in history, his attempts to align himself with figures like Roosevelt are met with skepticism, particularly when his statements misrepresent the facts and downplay the very achievements that made Roosevelt a celebrated American president.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/01/trump-theodore-roosevelt-north-dakota