Veterans of foreign wars criticize Donald Trump’s “stupid comments”

Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Al Lipphardt has sharply criticized Donald Trump for his “idiotic” comments about the awarding of the Medal of Honor.

At a campaign rally in New Jersey on Thursday, Trump sparked outrage when he said the Presidential Medal of Freedom was a “better” award than the U.S. Department of Defense's Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor honors American soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, guardsmen and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves “by outstanding acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty.”

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to civilians “who have made extraordinary contributions to the security or national interests of America, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”

“It's the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor,” Trump said of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. “But the civilian version is actually much better because everyone who receives the Congressional Medal of Honor is a soldier.”

“They are either in very bad condition because they have been hit by bullets so many times, or they are dead,” he said.[Adelson] she gets, and she's a healthy, beautiful woman, and they're judged equally, but she got the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”

Trump was referring to Miriam Adelson, a Republican donor whom he awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018 for opening two research centers to curb drug abuse, as well as the work of the Adelson Medical Research Foundation, which was founded to combat life-threatening diseases.

The group Veterans of Foreign Wars sharply criticized Trump for his comments, calling them “idiotic.”

“These moronic comments not only diminish the significance of our nation's highest award for valor, but also blatantly portray the sacrifices of those who risked their lives above and beyond the call of duty,” Lipphardt said in a statement on the group's website.

Among the 3,519 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor is Sergeant First Class Alwyn Cashe, who was awarded the honor posthumously in 2021 after he died of burns sustained in 2005 while attempting to rescue six fellow soldiers trapped in a burning vehicle following a roadside bombing in Iraq.

Another recipient is Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry, who received the award in 2011 for valor in Afghanistan. He lost his hand in an enemy grenade explosion after he picked up the explosive and threw it away from two fellow soldiers, saving their lives.

“When a nominee for commander in chief of our Army so brazenly dismisses the valor and honor symbolized by the Medal of Honor and those who have earned it, I have to wonder if he would approach his responsibilities to our men and women in uniform with the seriousness and judgment required of such a powerful position,” Lipphardt wrote.

“It is all the more disappointing when these comments come from a man who has already held this noble office and, frankly, should know better.”

He further stated that while the Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation's highest civilian award, the Medal of Honor is “more sacred” because it “represents the bravery and fearlessness of courageous and selfless soldiers who often suffered serious injuries or even the lives of their fellow soldiers.”

“It is thanks to our Medal of Honor recipients that great Americans like Miriam Adelson have the freedom to live up to their full potential and make such lasting contributions to our great nation,” he said.

Lipphardt continued, “We want to remind Mr. Trump that the 12 times he had the honor of awarding the Medal of Honor as President of the United States were to heroes he did not personally select. He awarded those medals on behalf of Congress, representing all Americans of a grateful nation. We greatly appreciate the sacrifice of their lives in service to our country, and he should, too.”

Others also criticized the former president for his comments. Sarafina Chitika, spokeswoman for Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign, said the comments showed that “Donald Trump knows nothing about serving anyone or anything but himself.”

Meanwhile, Alexander Vindman, a former National Security Council soldier who testified against Trump at his first impeachment trial, said on social media that comments showed Trump was “dishonoring recipients of the Medal of Honor, our nation's highest military award for distinguished valor. He deserves nothing but contempt and disqualifies himself for public office.”

Florent Groberg, Medal of Honor recipient and retired Army captain, wrote on X that he had “huge respect for the Medal of Freedom and its symbolism” and that it was “important to recognize the achievements of civilians,” but in his opinion it was “not quite comparable to the Medal of Honor, as they are two very different awards with different criteria and different meanings.”

Retired Army Sergeant Major Kenneth Ramos agreed with Groberg's assessment, telling CBS: “Cashe was aware of the danger involved in his attempts to rescue his comrades and in no way can this be placed in the same category as a civilian award.”

“It not only dishonors his memory as a hero, but also devalues ​​the Medal of Honor, which is awarded by someone who hopes to once again become commander in chief of our armed forces.”

Newsweek The Trump team asked for comment via email.

Following this backlash, Trump's vice presidential candidate JD Vance defended him in a statement to CBS.

“He's a man who loves our veterans and honors them,” Vance said. “I don't think he's in any way disparaging the people who have received military honors when he compliments and says a kind word about a person who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”

Trump had previously provoked strong reactions when he mocked former Senator John McCain for being taken prisoner by the enemy during the Vietnam War.

McCain was “a war hero only because he was captured” during the Vietnam War, Trump said in 2015, adding: “I like people who weren't captured, OK?”