During a campaign event in Potterville, Michigan, on Thursday, former President Donald Trump once again sparked controversy by suggesting that the Medal of Honor is somehow less prestigious than the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This remark came as he was honoring James McCloughan, a war hero who received the Medal of Honor during Trump’s first year in office.
In his speech, Trump incorrectly referred to the award as the “Congressional Medal of Honor,” a common but incorrect term. He then went on to express a preference for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, saying, “I always say, I’d rather get the presidential medal, because the guys that came in — other than you and a few others — oftentimes they’ve suffered greatly, right? They’ve suffered greatly, or they’re not around. But it’s our highest honor.”
Trump’s comments echoed similar statements he made earlier this month, where he controversially claimed that the Medal of Freedom is “much better” than the Medal of Honor. He reiterated in a follow-up interview that he would prefer the Medal of Freedom because recipients of the Medal of Honor often have significant battle scars — if they survive at all. “People who get the Congressional Medal of Honor, which I’ve given to many, are often horribly wounded or dead. They’re often dead,” Trump stated.
These remarks have reignited criticism of Trump’s perceived insensitivity toward veterans, particularly those who have been wounded or killed in action. His statements align with past allegations that he avoided including wounded warriors in parades and referred to Marines who died in World War I as “losers” and “suckers.” The backlash has been swift, including from his former chief of staff, retired Marine General John Kelly.
Kelly responded, saying, “Think of Normandy, Iwo Jima, Vietnam, or Fallujah. No president, member of Congress, judge, or political appointee — and certainly no recipient of the Presidential Medal — will ever be asked to give life or limb to protect the Constitution. The two awards cannot be compared in any way. Not even close.”
Al Lipphardt, the chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a typically nonpartisan organization, also condemned Trump’s remarks. “These asinine comments not only diminish the significance of our nation’s highest award for valor but also crassly characterize the sacrifices of those who have risked their lives above and beyond the call of duty,” Lipphardt stated.
Trump’s comments have stirred a wave of outrage, particularly among veterans and military families, who see them as a disrespectful trivialization of the sacrifices made by Medal of Honor recipients.