BEDMINSTER, NJ – Former President Donald Trump praised a wealthy donor gave The Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest military award, has been awarded a “better” award than the Congressional Medal of Honor because those recipients are often killed or wounded.
Speaking at a campaign event aimed at discussing anti-Semitism, Trump was introduced by Miriam Adelson, a wealthy Republican donor and widow of Sheldon Adelson. He died in 2021.
“When we gave Miriam the Presidential Medal of Freedom, I watched Sheldon sit proudly in the White House,” Trump said at his New Jersey resort.
“It’s the highest award you can receive as a civilian. It’s the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor,” Trump continued, referring to the highest military award for valor in combat.
“But the civilian version is actually better because everybody [who] They get the Congressional Medal of Honor, they are soldiers. They’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been shot multiple times, or they’re dead,” Trump concluded. but he got the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and he got that through committees and everything else.
Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, have criticized Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, over his military record. tried to make respect for military service an issue in these elections. Vance, also a veteran, criticized Walz for deciding to retire after more than 20 years in the National Guard, but before his unit deployed to Iraq. There is a waltz defended his military service.
Trump awarded Miriam Adelson the Medal of Freedom in 2018, praising her donations to drug addiction organizations and her work as a doctor. Trump’s White House described him As a “loyal member of the American Jewish community,” he “supported Jewish schools, Holocaust memorial organizations, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, and Birth Israel, among other causes.”
Medal of Freedom was created In 1963 by then-President John F. Kennedy. The broad-based award was created to honor civilians who have contributed to the “interests of the United States,” “world peace,” or other cultural or “significant” causes. public or private endeavors.” The President may unilaterally grant an honorary title.
More than 600 civilians have been awarded this honor during the award’s more than 60 years.
The Congressional Medal of Honor was first established in 1861 and since then there have been 3,519 recipients. more than 1,500 during the civil war. During the Second World War, 472 people were awarded for their service. there is 60 live buyers.
The latest requirements honor states that a soldier “must conspicuously distinguish himself by courage and bravery in the performance of duty at the risk of his life.” To be awarded, military members must be engaged in active combat on behalf of the United States against a foreign enemy, but there is no requirement that recipients be wounded during war.
To be honored, military personnel must document their acts of bravery with multiple witnesses and navigate the chain of command, including presidential approval, and then be voted on by Congress. Accompanying honor citations often refer to bravery under fire, such as saving fellow soldiers or civilians at personal risk.
Catherine Koretsky and Isabelle Schmeler contributed.