Trump: Presidential Medal of Freedom Much Better than Medal of Honor, Sparking Controversy

On a recent Thursday, former President Donald J. Trump stirred controversy with his comments on the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a campaign event at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J. He claimed that this civilian honor is "much better" than the Medal of Honor, which is awarded to service members often "in very bad shape" or deceased. This statement aligns with a pattern of Mr. Trump's past remarks that seemingly mock or belittle the sacrifices of wounded, captured, or deceased service members.

Trump's Controversial Remarks

At the event, dubbed as a discussion on combating antisemitism, Mr. Trump recalled presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Miriam Adelson, widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and a prominent donor, in attendance. He stated, "It’s actually much better, because everyone gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, that’s soldiers, they’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets, or they’re dead.” In doing so, he employed a common error in referring to the military honor, revealing a lack of understanding of its significance.

This latest incident adds to a series of remarks by Mr. Trump that appear to demonstrate disdain for service members who have endured physical, mental, or emotional traumas as a result of their service. Despite this, he consistently positions himself as a staunch advocate for the armed forces, leading to significant public backlash and condemnation from various quarters.