Melania Trump Named ‘Patriot of the Year’

At the FOX Nation’s annual Patriot Awards ceremony, First Lady Melania Trump was honored as “Patriot of the Year.” This recognition came amidst lighthearted musings from the co-hosts of the “Ruthless” podcast, who speculated on what a more unconventional version of this award might look like.

The hosts—Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook—are known for making conservative politics enjoyable. After their appearance on the red carpet, they were asked who might earn the dubious title of least patriotic American in 2025. Ashbrook quickly pointed fingers at House Representative Ilhan Omar, joking that the competition is really just among Democrats.

Another host chimed in, calling out Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as a major figure who lacks control over his party, dubbing it a “laughing stock.” Duncan then mentioned he was going to suggest Schumer, but joked that Smaug, a fictional dragon, had already taken his idea. Instead, he shifted gears to Hakeem Jeffries, likening him to a “copy” of Barack Obama.

Holmes, however, took a more collective view, remarking on moderates who don’t behave very moderately at all. “It seems like a team effort in this year’s least patriotic camp,” he shared. He noted that many centrist Democrats are acting in ways that fail to address pressing issues, even when it impacts people directly.

Although the “Ruthless” hosts predominantly named politicians, they frequently critique mainstream media as well. Every year, they hold a tournament called #HackMadness, where listeners vote on the biggest liberal media figures they consider hacks, with CBS’s Margaret Brennan taking home last year’s title.

Holmes anticipated that MSNBC personalities would be strong contenders as the network rebrands to MS NOW, predicting they will have a lot to prove in their new identity.

Fox News made waves earlier this year by signing a licensing agreement with the “Ruthless” podcast, which has drawn attention as the conservative counterpart to the popular left-leaning “Pod Save America.” The influence of “Ruthless” efforts even extended to the White House, where Ashbrook was acknowledged for his contributions during the Trump administration.

New episodes of “Ruthless” come out every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday across all podcast platforms and on YouTube.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the offices of Jeffries, Schumer, and Omar for their thoughts on these remarks.