Trump Makes Controversial “Threesome” Joke Regarding Medal of Honor

During a Wednesday ceremony at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota, Donald Trump joked about awarding himself and his son the Medal of Honor, sparking controversy with his phrasing.

The “Threesome” Remark

The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 1, during the opening ceremony of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota. While looking toward his sons, Donald Trump stated he would like to award the medal to himself and one of them, describing the prospect as a “threesome.” He noted that this would make them the third father-son pair in history to receive the decoration.

Trump further joked that he would award the medal to his son for his “hunting talent” and to himself for dealing with the “Russia” affair.

Medal of Honor Context

The Medal of Honor is the highest and most prestigious U.S. military decoration, awarded to service members for exceptional valor and courage in combat, far exceeding standard duty requirements.

A Pattern of Humorous Remarks

Earlier that day, during a ceremony regarding the donation of Theodore Roosevelt’s own medal to the library, Trump made a similar joke. He claimed he would like to award himself the medal, but said his advisors would not allow it because they could not identify any merits to justify such an honor.

Historical Precedents

Theodore Roosevelt remains the only U.S. president to have received the award, granted in 2001 by Bill Clinton for his leadership during the Spanish-American War. His son, Theodore Roosevelt Jr., received the medal for his bravery and composure under fire during the Normandy landings in World War II.

The first father-son pair to receive the Medal of Honor were Arthur and Douglas MacArthur. Arthur was recognized for his actions during the American Civil War, while Douglas received the medal for his defense of the Philippines during World War II.