Speaking at the dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, President Donald Trump said Roosevelt’s experience in the Badlands left a lasting mark on the nation’s conservation legacy and continues to resonate with Rural America. ‘He’s a very special man, and that’s why I’m here, President Theodore Roosevelt, he loved your community, he loved your state, and he was quite something,” said Trump. “Roosevelt came to the North Dakota Badlands in the 1880s to operate cattle ranches following the deaths of his wife and mother.” Trump said those years transformed Roosevelt’s character and leadership. “Roosevelt’s ranching experience exposed him firsthand to the challenges of livestock production, harsh winters, and stewardship of the land, experiences that later influenced his conservation policies, including the creation of national forests, wildlife refuges, and public lands that continue to impact agriculture and ranching today.”
