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Despite backlash from veterans, Trump doubles down on efforts to dig up the Medal of Honor

Donald Trump reiterated his statement that the Presidential Medal of Freedom is superior to the military Medal of Honor because the former does not involve any sacrifice.

“The Presidential Medal of Freedom has not, to my knowledge, harmed anybody,” Trump said in an interview after his rally on Saturday, attempting to clarify his remarks on Thursday. “People [who] “Those who receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, which I have awarded to many, are often seriously wounded or dead. They are often dead and receive it posthumously. And when you receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, I always consider that the greatest thing – but it is painful to receive it.”

He added: “When you get the Presidential Medal of Freedom, it's usually for other things, like great achievements in sports or elsewhere… I don't think anyone suffered, other than that people, you know, worked hard and accomplished great things.”

Trump made his first controversial comments on the subject at an event to combat anti-Semitism on Thursday at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Trump was talking about billionaire Miriam Adelson, the widow of major Republican donor Sheldon Adelson and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Trump said the civilian award was “actually much better because everyone [who] gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, they are soldiers. They are either in very bad shape because they have been hit by bullets so many times, or they are dead.” Of Miriam Adelson, Trump said: “She gets it, and she is a healthy, beautiful woman, and they are equals, but she got the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the largest veterans advocacy group in the United States, criticized the statement on Friday. VFW National Commander Al Lipphardt said: “These moronic comments not only diminish the significance of our nation's highest award for valor, but also starkly portray the sacrifices of those who risked their lives above and beyond the call of duty.”

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The progressive veterans group Common Defense also sharply criticized the comments, posting on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday: “It is absolutely disgraceful that Trump would equate the Medal of Honor, our military's highest award for valor, courage, bravery and sacrifice, with the award he gave to his major donor. He is not fit to lead our nation and our military.”

Trump's comments come at a time when his running mate, JD Vance, is focused on attacking Kamala Harris's vice presidential nominee, Tim Walz, who served two decades in the Army National Guard, for allegedly “stealing valor.” The claim is dubious, to say the least.

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This is not the first time Trump has angered veterans. In 2020, he reportedly called American soldiers killed in war “losers” and “suckers,” which he denies.

Retired Gen. John Kelly, Trump's former chief of staff who confirmed that he denigrated dead soldiers, on Monday rejected Trump's claim that the Presidential Medal of Freedom is “way better” than the Medal of Honor. “Not even close,” he told CNN.

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