President Donald Trump joked about awarding the Medal of Honor to himself and his two sons during a speech in North Dakota [1].
The remark has drawn scrutiny because the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the U.S. and is reserved for extraordinary valor. Suggesting that a political family could receive the award as a group, regardless of military service, challenges the traditional prestige of the honor.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, June 30, 2026, at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library [1]. Trump was paying tribute to the only two father-and-son pairs who have ever received the Medal of Honor [2]. During the presentation, he suggested that he, Donald Trump Jr., and Eric Trump should also be recipients.
"We'll have a threesome," Trump said [3].
Reports indicate the comment left supporters in the audience visibly awkward [4]. Following the reaction, Trump said the remark was not a serious proposal. He said that he was kidding and noted that sarcasm in politics is often misunderstood by the media [3].
Only two father-and-son pairs have ever achieved this distinction in U.S. history [2]. Trump's use of the term "threesome" to describe a potential group of awardees created a moment of tension during the event, a reaction that was captured by those in attendance [4].
The President's comments follow a pattern of using humor to address high-level honors, though the specific nature of this joke regarding the nation's highest military award has divided observers on social media [1].
“"We'll have a threesome."”
The controversy highlights the tension between the President's improvisational speaking style and the rigid protocols surrounding military honors. By jokingly associating his family with the Medal of Honor, Trump risked trivializing a decoration that is strictly governed by congressional and military criteria, potentially alienating veterans and military traditionalists.
