Trump Calls Presidential Medal of Freedom ‘Better’ than Medal of Honor, Faces Backlash for Controversial Remarks

Trump’s Controversial Remark on Presidential Medal of Freedom

Former President Donald Trump recently stirred controversy during remarks at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He asserted that the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an award for civilians, is “actually much better” than the esteemed Medal of Honor, which is awarded to military personnel, often posthumously or to those extensively injured in service.

Praising Miriam Adelson

Trump’s comments came while he was paying tribute to Miriam Adelson, a noteworthy Republican benefactor, whom he awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom during his presidency. He reminisced about her late husband, Sheldon Adelson, who took pride in her receiving the accolade.

“That’s the highest award you can get as a civilian, it’s the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor, but civilian version,” Trump opined, adding that everyone who receives the Medal of Honor often does so due to serious wounds or posthumously, thus underscoring his perspective on the civilian award.

Echoes of Past Controversies

This statement represents another chapter in a series of remarks Trump has made regarding military service and honors. His earlier comments—questioning the war hero status of the late Senator John McCain, who was a naval aviator and was imprisoned during the Vietnam War—came under fire when Trump stated, “I like people that weren’t captured.”

Additionally, a situation that drew backlash in 2020 revealed claims that Trump referred to fallen soldiers as “losers” and “suckers” during a visit to France, comments he has consistently denied.

Responses to Trump’s Statement

In response to Trump’s latest remarks, Sarafina Chitika, a spokesperson for the Harris-Walz campaign, expressed strong condemnation. “Donald Trump knows nothing about service to anyone or anything but himself,” she declared. She highlighted concerns that Trump’s perceived disregard for military sacrifices and ‘Gold Star families’ marks him unfit for leadership, stating, “We owe it to our service members, our country, and our future to make sure Donald Trump is never our nation’s commander in chief again.”

Focus on Antisemitism

The event where Trump made these remarks also aimed to address issues surrounding antisemitism. Miriam Adelson’s introduction of Trump is significant, given her charitable contributions to his reelection efforts, while her late husband had been a prominent Republican donor supportive of Trump’s initiatives.