US President Donald Trump on Wednesday travelled to Medora, North Dakota, to dedicate the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library — a visit he said carried double significance, as it also marked the inaugural flight of a newly refurbished Air Force One aircraft, the first such flight in 37 years. Trump called the plane 'a great plane' and described the journey as both historic and personally meaningful.

The Air Force One Milestone

Addressing supporters in Medora, Trump confirmed the flight's significance in his own words: 'This was an inaugural flight of a certain airplane called Air Force One, after 37 years. It's a great plane, and we had a lot of fun with Doug and everybody coming over, but we talked about Theodore Roosevelt a lot, because he was something that was really very special.'

The White House has not released additional technical details about the aircraft Trump referenced. Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign for any US Air Force aircraft carrying the American President. The current presidential fleet has been in service for more than three decades, and plans to replace or modernise the aircraft have spanned multiple administrations, reflecting the complexity of converting long-range commercial jets into highly specialised, security-hardened platforms.

First Sitting President to Dedicate a Presidential Library

Trump became the first sitting US President to participate in the opening of a presidential library when he attended the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library dedication. During the ceremony, he presented Theodore Roosevelt's Congressional Medal of Honor to the library — an artefact he removed from the Roosevelt Room at the White House for the occasion.

The President also announced a federal grant of $750,000 through the National Endowment for the Humanities to support the library's opening exhibits during its first year of operation.

What Interior Secretary Doug Burgum Said

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who hosted the event, described Trump's attendance as 'a historic moment.' Burgum also revealed that visitors to the library will hear a recorded reading by Trump of Theodore Roosevelt's celebrated 'Man in the Arena' passage when the institution officially opens.

The recording features Roosevelt's words: 'It is not the critic who counts... The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.' Burgum added: 'President Trump is the man in the arena, and it's a thrill to have him here to help dedicate this presidential library today.'

Trump on Theodore Roosevelt

Trump used the occasion to express his admiration for the 26th US President, calling Roosevelt 'one of the few' leaders he truly admires. 'I'm honouring Theodore Roosevelt, and that's the man who I have long admired. He's one of the few — I don't admire too many people, I have to tell you,' Trump said.

He praised the new facility as 'a great museum, great library, great centre' and predicted it would become 'a very special place,' adding that the region is 'a part of the country that I love.' The visit also coincided with remarks marking the approach of the United States' 250th anniversary.

With the library now dedicated and the refurbished aircraft in service, both milestones are expected to draw continued attention as the US approaches its semiquincentennial celebrations.