MEDORA, N.D. — Thousands of people from across North Dakota and around the country gathered in Medora on Wednesday, July 1, for President Donald Trump’s visit celebrating America’s upcoming 250th anniversary and the dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.

Under hot summer skies, the normally quiet western North Dakota town transformed into a tightly-secured venue filled with patriotic displays, music and enthusiastic crowds. Attendees lined the route waving American flags and holding signs reading “We Love USA” and “We Love Trump” as Trump arrived aboard the BNSF Freedom 250 train, a ceremonial tribute to the state’s railroad heritage and the Freedom 250 celebration.

Many in the crowd wore red, white and blue clothing, “Make America Great Again” hats and other patriotic attire. Security was highly visible throughout the event, with law enforcement officers, emergency responders and medical personnel stationed across the venue. Snipers were positioned on nearby buttes and along the rail corridor while ambulances and emergency crews, including Billings County Ambulance and Ringdahl EMS, remained on standby.

Trump was accompanied by his sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr.; Donald Trump Jr.’s partner, Bettina Anderson; and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Following his arrival, he was escorted by a mounted Rough Rider reenactment group as he made his way from the train to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.

Inside the packed Burning Hills Amphitheater, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum introduced the president before Trump walked onto the stage to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.”

Dorvall Bedford / The Dickinson Press

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During remarks lasting more than an hour, Trump spoke about Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy, American values, law enforcement, the Panama Canal and challenges facing the nation. He also announced $750,000 in support for the presidential library and joked with the audience after technical issues with the teleprompters prompted him to speak without prepared remarks.

Trump concluded his speech by thanking North Dakotans, describing the state as beautiful and ending with his signature dance to “YMCA.”

For many attendees, however, the day was about more than the speech itself. They described the event as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness a presidential visit to one of North Dakota’s most recognizable destinations.

Eli Waddington, one of the Rough Rider reenactors who led the mounted presidential procession, said participating in the event was among the greatest honors of his life.

“It’s a great honor, one of the greatest honors we’ve ever been presented with,” Waddington said. “We’re representing the men that have fought and died for this country over the years to make America what it is, and we’re bringing our president and his people to the top of the hill to dedicate the library to one of the best presidents that ever lived, Teddy Roosevelt.”

Dorvall Bedford / The Dickinson Press

Fellow Rough Rider reenactor Jayson Wayne Jones said months of planning, practices and security screenings preceded the event. Only 20 mounted riders were selected to escort the president.

“This is probably the largest honor I’ve ever been involved in,” Jones said. “There was a lot of back and forth, a lot of figuring out. We’ve gone through multiple practices and screenings.”

Among those attending were Dickinson High School seniors Ava Hauck, founder and CEO of the artificial intelligence biotechnology startup Clinivue, and Callie Bowden, the company’s marketing specialist. The pair documented the day’s events while taking in the historic occasion.

Bowden said the scale of the security and road closures was unlike anything she had previously experienced in Medora.

Dorvall Bedford / The Dickinson Press

“We’ve never had Medora blocked off before, so it’s really different,” she said.

Hauck said the visit brought rare national attention to western North Dakota.

“It’s just exciting because we don’t really get a lot of attention in North Dakota,” Hauck said. “It’s really good to see all the excitement brought to Medora.”

For Daniel Gannarelli, chief revenue officer of the Medora Foundation, the event represented a milestone not only for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library but also for the town itself.

“The last time a president was in Medora was when Teddy Roosevelt was here,” Gannarelli said. “To have a sitting president choose us during the Fourth of July week and the 250th anniversary of the country, when he could literally be anywhere in the world, is quite impressive.”

Dorvall Bedford / The Dickinson Press

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Gannarelli said he hopes future presidents from both political parties will continue to visit Medora, emphasizing the community’s desire to welcome people regardless of political affiliation.

“Where the American experiment is actually happening — left and right, all divides of the spectrum, all politically different people can come here to enjoy this,” he said. “I hope we have Obama. I hope we have Bush. Medora is for everyone.”

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Trump arrived in Bismarck aboard the new Qatar-gifted Air Force One plane. From there, he traveled to Medora, in the western part of the state, for a private tour of the presidential library.

His speech is scheduled to start at 1:15 p.m. local time.

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Rounds of severe thunderstorms impacted many parts of North Dakota in June.

June 3 saw damaging straight-line winds in Rolette County, estimated up to 95 mph based on the damage observed.

June 7 brought two tornadoes to northern North Dakota, one of which caused damage to a property. The complexes of storms that Sunday evening also caused extensive wind damage, with 80-100 mph gusts estimated in many towns.

June 9 delivered more damaging wind, especially to the town of Sawyer, where lots of trees were knocked down. 90 mph winds were estimated there, as well as in rural northwest McHenry County at a property that sustained damage.

• Storm cleanup underway in Sawyer as questions raised over warning siren
• Sawyer declares wind emergency as storm cleanup continues

After a break from widespread severe thunderstorms in the middle of the month, the final weekend of June brought more activity.

A tornado touched down north of Belfield on June 27, doing damage to a property. Meanwhile, another swath of damaging winds moved across the region, with western ND seeing the worst of it. Damage west of Williston was estimated to be caused by near 100 mph winds.

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• NWS completes surveys of tornado & t-storm wind damage from the weekend
• Severe weather causes damage, displaces residents in Williston area

June 28 also saw a tornado touch down near Riverdale and Coleharbor amid another severe weather outbreak, bringing the month’s tornado total to five.

Hail was also a common threat during the month, with June 29 delivering large hail to towns like Mandan, north Bismarck, and Max.