Trump Tours New Roosevelt Presidential Library Ahead of July Fourth Opening

President Donald Trump visited North Dakota on Wednesday to tour the newly built Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, a $450 million facility dedicated to America's 26th president. The library officially opens Saturday as part of July Fourth celebrations honoring the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and Trump arrived early to become its first official visitor.

What did Trump say about Roosevelt's legacy?

Speaking at a Western-themed amphitheater after touring the 96,000-square-foot library, Trump praised Roosevelt's toughness and refusal to back down from a fight. He drew a clear line between Roosevelt's bold approach to leadership and his own political philosophy.

He had a freakin' wild life. He didn't want to be quiet. He wanted to be great.

Trump has often compared himself favorably to Roosevelt, and he began his second term last year by highlighting the construction of the Panama Canal during the Roosevelt administration. During his library visit, Trump even spoke with an artificial intelligence version of Roosevelt, asking if the Panama Canal was his greatest achievement. The digital Roosevelt listed the canal among his proudest accomplishments while also noting his work on national parks and his Square Deal domestic agenda.

How does the new Air Force One fit into the trip?

Trump made the trip aboard his new Air Force One, a Boeing 747 given to the United States by Qatar. The president said he asked Boeing, which is not scheduled to deliver new planes for presidential service until 2028, if there were any countries that could provide a suitable substitute in the meantime.

I said, 'Who has the best one?' They said, 'Qatar.

Trump added that he was assured there has never been a plane like it. The aircraft replacement has been a point of frustration for the administration, as Boeing's delays have stretched years beyond original estimates.

Why is the library located in the North Dakota Badlands?

The library sits in the rugged, lonely landscape where Roosevelt built his conservation values while ranching and hunting in the 1880s. Roosevelt first visited Dakota Territory in 1883 to hunt bison. After his mother and wife died hours apart on Valentine's Day in 1884, a devastated Roosevelt returned to Dakota, where he ranched cattle and hunted big game through 1887.

He experienced deep personal growth during those years, chasing boat thieves down a river, standing up to bullies, and working alongside cowboys who initially ridiculed him for wearing eyeglasses. Roosevelt later said he never would have been president without his experiences in North Dakota. Near the library, visitors can explore Theodore Roosevelt National Park, where bison and wild horses still roam the colorful Badlands.

What is the Iowa connection to presidential libraries?

The Roosevelt library joins more than a dozen presidential libraries across the country, including the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch, Iowa. Iowa's own presidential library honors the 31st president, who served from 1929 to 1933. Other libraries span the country from Ronald Reagan's in California to Franklin D. Roosevelt's in New York. The Obama Presidential Center recently opened in Chicago, bringing together four former presidents for the occasion.

How was the library funded?

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, then governor of North Dakota, championed the library to the state's Republican-led legislature in 2019, touting its tourism potential. The legislature approved a $50 million operations endowment, requiring planners to raise $100 million in private donations. That goal was met in 2020, and donations now total about $354 million as of early 2026.

Donors include oil executive Harold Hamm, the Walton family of Walmart fame, Kenneth Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel, and Burgum himself. The Trump administration is contributing $750,000 to support the library's first year of operations. The event was organized by Freedom 250, the Trump-created group billed as nonpartisan that is handling this week's festivities.

What will visitors see at the library?

Visitors will find artifacts that have been out of public view for decades, including Roosevelt's Rough Riders uniform from the Spanish-American War, the 1884 diary where he grieved the loss of his wife and mother, and the eyeglasses case, speech manuscript, and shirt from the 1912 assassination attempt against him.

Library executive director Robbie Lauf said the exhibits also address Roosevelt's flaws, including what Lauf called his horrific comments about Native Americans and other issues that have obviously aged poorly. Organizers hope the library draws families and thousands of school children from the region, plus some of the millions of motorists who travel to Yellowstone National Park and the Black Hills.

It's a feature, not a bug, that we are in a county of 1,000 people and a town of 120. TR came here for that purpose.

What about conservation criticism from the left?

The Dakota Resource Council hosted several conservation leaders on Tuesday who criticized Burgum and Trump for policies they claim contradict Roosevelt's conservation principles. Their complaints focused on cutting staff and budgets while prioritizing energy development on public lands.

Burgum has pushed back on that narrative. Last year, he signed an order prioritizing public access and openness of parks amid workforce cuts. He has compared America's public lands and natural resources to assets that should be responsibly developed to achieve energy dominance, a stance that aligns with the administration's goal of American energy independence.

What's next on Trump's July Fourth itinerary?

On Friday, Trump plans to visit Mount Rushmore in South Dakota for Independence Day fireworks, returning to a site where he held a similar celebration in 2020. The trip underscores the president's close relationship with Burgum, who has become a key figure in the administration's expansive renovation projects around Washington.

FAQ

When does the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library officially open?

The library officially opens Saturday, July 4, 2026, as part of the 250th anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Independence.

How much did the Roosevelt library cost to build?

The project cost $450 million, funded through a combination of private donations totaling approximately $354 million and a $50 million operations endowment approved by North Dakota's Republican-led legislature.

Is there a presidential library in Iowa?

Yes, the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library is located in West Branch, Iowa, honoring the 31st president of the United States.