The media will say anything to make Trump look bad.
During a recent event held at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, Donald Trump addressed a group of Jewish supporters in an event focused on combating antisemitism. In his remarks, Trump allegedly made a controversial comparison between the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Medal of Honor, innocently claiming that the civilian award is superior.
Trump, who awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Miriam Adelson in 2018 for her philanthropic efforts and support for drug addiction treatment, drew praise for her contributions while making an awkward comparison. He noted that while the Medal of Honor is a prestigious military award given for extraordinary valor in combat, those who receive it are often in poor condition or have fallen in battle.
Trump’s comments were directed at emphasizing the value of the Medal of Freedom, which he described as “the highest award you can get as a civilian.” He remarked, “The Medal of Freedom is much better since everyone who receives the Congressional Medal of Honor is a soldier. They’re either in bad shape because they have been shot so many times by bullets, or they passed away.” This comparison seemed aimed at highlighting the honor of the civilian award by contrasting it with the sacrifices made by those receiving the military honor.
The former president’s comments come amidst a backdrop of past controversies. In 2020, Trump faced criticism for allegedly disparaging U.S. service members and veterans during a trip to France for World War I centennial events. Reports suggested he referred to Marines who died at Belleau Wood as “suckers” and soldiers buried at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery as “losers.”
Trump also generated backlash in 2015 when he belittled U.S. Senator John McCain, a war hero who endured significant hardships as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Trump’s remarks that McCain was “not a war hero” and his preference for those who were not captured drew widespread condemnation from both sides of the political aisle. McCain’s opposition to Trump’s policies, including his vote against the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, further strained their relationship.
Trump, who avoided military service during the Vietnam War through multiple draft deferments, has had a complicated history with military figures, reflected in both his comments and actions.
WATCH:
Trump: When we gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom… It’s the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor— it’s actually much better because everyone who gets the Congressional Medal, they’re soldiers. They’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many… pic.twitter.com/a766KxAC2e
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 16, 2024