President Donald Trump visited the newly constructed Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, on Wednesday to mark its official opening. The visit highlights a significant cultural and historical addition to the region, situated within the rugged landscape of the Badlands where the 26th president once established his conservation values during the 1880s.
A Visit to the Badlands
Trump arrived in Medora aboard Air Force One for the ceremony at the Burning Hills Amphitheater. During a tour of the $450 million facility, which spans 96,000 square feet, Trump spoke with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and library executive director Robbie Lauf. The president praised Roosevelt as an embodiment of the American spirit, noting his toughness both as a leader and outdoorsman.
“He had a freakin’ wild life,” Trump told the audience at the Western-themed amphitheater. “He didn’t want to be quiet. He wanted to be great.”
Funding and Historical Context
The library project required substantial private funding, with donors including oil executive Harold Hamm, the Walton family, and Kenneth Griffin contributing approximately $354 million as of early 2026. The North Dakota legislature approved a $50 million operations endowment in 2019 when Burgum was governor.
During his visit, Trump announced that his administration would provide $750,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support the library’s first year of operations. Roosevelt visited Dakota Territory in 1883 and later ranched cattle there after personal tragedies in New York. He credited these experiences with shaping his future presidency.
Grand Opening Celebrations
The official grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, coinciding with July 4th celebrations honoring the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. All living former presidents were invited to the event, which joins other presidential libraries across the country.
Visitors will view artifacts such as Roosevelt’s Rough Riders uniform and his diary from 1884. Library officials aim to attract families and schoolchildren from the region, leveraging its proximity to Theodore Roosevelt National Park where bison and wild horses roam in the Badlands.
