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US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump has said he had “a conversation” with ex-president Theodore Roosevelt, who has been dead for over 100 years.
Trump visited Medora, North Dakota yesterday to dedicate a new library honouring Roosevelt, who was the 26th president of the United States.
The current president used the occasion to take his first flight on the new Air Force One plane that was gifted to him by Qatar.
He then showed up in the remote North Dakota Badlands town on a red, white and blue train in an imitation of Roosevelt’s signature whistle-stop tours.
The trip was part of a series of events organised by the Trump administration to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
One moment from Trump’s tour of the library stood out even more than his arrival by train.
A video posted on social media by one of Trump’s assistants showed the 47th president having a “conversation” with a projected chatbot version of the 26th.
“Every day a president faces storms most people never see,” the AI imitation Roosevelt says.
“Keep your nerve and remember the nation comes first. You’ll get through. I know you know that feeling yourself.”
Trump then thanks the holographic Roosevelt.
“I appreciate those words. Those words are fantastic,” he said.
“I just want to say it’s an honour to be with you today,” Trump continued.
“We are making a little bit of a tour of some of the fantastic things you’ve done.”
.@POTUS interacts with AI President Theodore Roosevelt at the Theodore Roosevelt Library in North Dakota 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/4ISRo2Tsbj
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) July 1, 2026
Later, when giving a speech flanked by men dressed up as Roosevelt’s “Rough Rider” cavalrymen, Trump said:
“I even had a conversation with Theodore Roosevelt.
“I said, what do you think about the Panama Canal? Do you consider that your greatest achievement?
“How do you feel about the fact that the Democrats gave the Panama Canal away to Panama for a dollar?”
Trump: "I even had a conversation with Theodore Roosevelt. I said, 'What do you think about the Panama Canal? Do you consider that your greatest achievement and how do you feel about the fact that the Democrats gave the Panama Canal away to Panama for $1?'" pic.twitter.com/nP0ox7ensO
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 1, 2026
That last line drew groans and boos from Trump’s supporters in the crowd.
Trump did not divulge what “Theodore Roosevelt” had said in response.
Another video posted by the same assistant showed he did ask if the canal was Roosevelt’s greatest achievement, but no video was published showing him asking about Panama taking control of it.
President Trump asks AI President Roosevelt…“Do you consider the Panama Canal your greatest achievement?” pic.twitter.com/zvfDCL2sKS
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) July 1, 2026
Trump has previously threatened to “take back” the canal from the Panamanian government, which assumed full control of the waterway in 1999 following the signing of a treaty in 1977.
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