Trump says Trump Jr would rather hunt 'in some jungle' than attend his memorial

WASHINGTON, DC: At a White House Christmas reception, President Donald Trump made an unusually candid remark about how he imagines his own memorial service, suggesting his eldest son would rather be hunting than staying to mourn.

Speaking during a holiday gathering on Sunday, December 14, Trump mused aloud about what might happen “when I kick the bucket,” offering a blunt and personal reflection on how his family, particularly Donald Trump Jr., might respond.

Trump suggested that Donald Trump Jr. would be reluctant to attend a memorial service for long, choosing instead to return to what the president described as his son’s true passion: hunting in remote wildernesses.

The comment came during a broader, freewheeling set of remarks at the Christmas reception, where Trump shifted between holiday pleasantries, anecdotes, and reflections on family, politics, and media.

A clip from the event, shared online, showed Trump addressing guests as he moved from a discussion of a book into a story about his son’s love of wildlife and hunting.

Trump on Donald Trump Jr and a future memorial

Expanding on the subject, Trump referenced photographs from 2012 that showed Donald Trump Jr. would likely attend a memorial briefly, estimating that his son would stay “about two days” before heading back out to hunt. Trump added that Trump Jr. would “rather be in the jungle than any place on Earth,” suggesting that even a major family moment would not outweigh that interest.

Trump characterized the idea as “unfortunate,” but delivered the line casually, presenting it as an accepted reality rather than a grievance.

Before launching into the anecdote, Trump referenced the memoir Venom and Valor by James J. Jones, which recounts a dangerous snakebite in the Amazon. He used the story as a segue into his son’s fascination with wildlife and extreme outdoor pursuits, repeating the phrase “wildlife always wins” as he spoke.

Trump noted that his son’s passion for hunting has been well known for years and has repeatedly attracted controversy and criticism.

Trump on Donald Trump Jr’s hunting image and media attention

Expanding on the subject, Trump referenced photographs from 2012 that showed Donald Trump Jr. and his brother, Eric Trump, posing with hunting trophies during trips taken years earlier.

Those images, which included what appeared to be an elephant’s tail and a leopard carcass, sparked widespread backlash when they resurfaced and became emblematic of Trump Jr.’s public image as an avid trophy hunter.

Trump acknowledged that the photos continue to be linked to his son’s reputation and remain a frequent point of criticism.

He also revealed that, at one point, Trump Jr. had been discussed as a potential television personality centered on hunting and fishing. According to Trump, someone within his circle pitched Warner Bros. Discovery on the idea of Trump Jr. hosting a wildlife-themed television series.

The proposed show was described as a twist on traditional nature programming, focused less on observation and more on shooting animals.

Trump said the pitch was framed by comparing it to another media deal involving Melania Trump, who reportedly received $40 million for a documentary project. The implication, Trump suggested, was that Trump Jr. could similarly monetize his outdoor pursuits.

The comments, delivered in a light and joking tone, nevertheless offered a rare glimpse into how Trump publicly imagines his legacy and family dynamics, even at a festive holiday event.