Former President Trump is once again under fire for comments he made about military veterans, comparing a civilian medal to the Medal of Honor.
President Trump spoke Thursday at an event focused on fighting anti-Semitism on the grounds of his Bedminster, New Jersey home, which was also attended by Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson. During his speech, Trump spoke about awarding Adelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 2018.
“This is the highest award a civilian can receive — the civilian equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor,” Trump told the crowd.
“That’s actually a lot better, because every soldier who gets the Congressional Medal of Honor is either shot multiple times and in terrible shape or dead. And she gets it, and she’s a healthy, beautiful woman,” Trump said, laughing and drawing applause from the crowd. “They’re all equally valued.”
The video of Trump’s remarks sparked immediate reactions on social media, with Democrats and Harris quickly seizing on the remarks to attack the former president’s views on veterans and wounded Americans.
“Just as Trump has attacked Gold Star families, mocked prisoners of war and called those who have lost their lives serving our country ‘idiots’ and ‘losers,’ his insults to Medal of Honor recipients should remind all Americans that we owe it to our service members, our country and our future to ensure that Donald Trump never again serves as Commander in Chief,” Harris campaign spokeswoman Sarafina Chitica said in a statement.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), a former Navy captain, posted on social media that Trump “has no idea how to put others before himself.”
“When the Medal of Honor is awarded posthumously, it is often bestowed on Americans who threw themselves on grenades or braved enemy fire — heroes who made the supreme sacrifice to save others,” he posted on social platform X.
The Trump campaign rushed to defend him in the face of criticism. His running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), touted the support of local police while campaigning in Wisconsin and, when asked about the backlash, insisted that Trump wasn’t trying to disparage veterans.
“I’ve seen him present numerous awards and certificates to veterans, and of course I’m a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War myself,” Vance said.
“He’s a guy who loves and respects veterans, and I don’t think praising or saying nice things about somebody who’s received the Medal of Freedom is an insult to people who receive military honors,” he continued. “They’re two separate awards. The president was just saying nice things about somebody he likes, and I think that’s totally reasonable.”
A Trump campaign spokesman insisted Harris and her campaign were in no position to criticize the Biden administration, citing the country’s chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, which left 13 U.S. soldiers dead.
“Kamala bragged about being in the room with Biden for the last time as he began his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. It is outrageous that Kamala and her failing campaign have the brazenness to claim consideration for our military members when they abandoned them just a few years ago,” Brian Hughes, a senior campaign adviser, said in a statement, adding that Biden would hold a memorial for fallen soldiers.
Trump has frequently boasted that he rebuilt the military during his time in office and has argued that under Biden the country has become weaker and less respected on the international stage, but he has also stirred up controversy over his comments about veterans.
During the 2016 campaign, Trump mocked the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for his time as a POW and sparred with the family of an Army captain killed in Iraq.
While in office, Trump came under fire for a phone call he made with the mother of a US soldier killed in Niger. Former White House chief of staff John Kelly confirmed an Atlantic report that Trump questioned why France should visit cemeteries filled with “losers.” Trump denies making those comments.
The Trump campaign is trying to go on the offensive on the military service issue, attacking Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, the Minnesota Democrat, for resigning from the National Guard just months before troops were scheduled to deploy overseas.
Relatives of those killed during the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan spoke at the Republican National Convention last month, criticizing the Biden administration and arguing that the current administration has not properly commemorated the victims.
Trump's Medal of Honor comments mark latest veteran controversy
Former President Trump is once again under fire for comments he made about military veterans, comparing a civilian medal to the Medal of Honor.
President Trump spoke Thursday at an event focused on fighting anti-Semitism on the grounds of his Bedminster, New Jersey home, which was also attended by Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson. During his speech, Trump spoke about awarding Adelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 2018.
“This is the highest award a civilian can receive — the civilian equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor,” Trump told the crowd.
“That’s actually a lot better, because every soldier who gets the Congressional Medal of Honor is either shot multiple times and in terrible shape or dead. And she gets it, and she’s a healthy, beautiful woman,” Trump said, laughing and drawing applause from the crowd. “They’re all equally valued.”
The video of Trump’s remarks sparked immediate reactions on social media, with Democrats and Harris quickly seizing on the remarks to attack the former president’s views on veterans and wounded Americans.
“Just as Trump has attacked Gold Star families, mocked prisoners of war and called those who have lost their lives serving our country ‘idiots’ and ‘losers,’ his insults to Medal of Honor recipients should remind all Americans that we owe it to our service members, our country and our future to ensure that Donald Trump never again serves as Commander in Chief,” Harris campaign spokeswoman Sarafina Chitica said in a statement.
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), a former Navy captain, posted on social media that Trump “has no idea how to put others before himself.”
“When the Medal of Honor is awarded posthumously, it is often bestowed on Americans who threw themselves on grenades or braved enemy fire — heroes who made the supreme sacrifice to save others,” he posted on social platform X.
The Trump campaign rushed to defend him in the face of criticism. His running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), touted the support of local police while campaigning in Wisconsin and, when asked about the backlash, insisted that Trump wasn’t trying to disparage veterans.
“I’ve seen him present numerous awards and certificates to veterans, and of course I’m a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War myself,” Vance said.
“He’s a guy who loves and respects veterans, and I don’t think praising or saying nice things about somebody who’s received the Medal of Freedom is an insult to people who receive military honors,” he continued. “They’re two separate awards. The president was just saying nice things about somebody he likes, and I think that’s totally reasonable.”
A Trump campaign spokesman insisted Harris and her campaign were in no position to criticize the Biden administration, citing the country’s chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, which left 13 U.S. soldiers dead.
“Kamala bragged about being in the room with Biden for the last time as he began his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. It is outrageous that Kamala and her failing campaign have the brazenness to claim consideration for our military members when they abandoned them just a few years ago,” Brian Hughes, a senior campaign adviser, said in a statement, adding that Biden would hold a memorial for fallen soldiers.
Trump has frequently boasted that he rebuilt the military during his time in office and has argued that under Biden the country has become weaker and less respected on the international stage, but he has also stirred up controversy over his comments about veterans.
During the 2016 campaign, Trump mocked the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for his time as a POW and sparred with the family of an Army captain killed in Iraq.
While in office, Trump came under fire for a phone call he made with the mother of a US soldier killed in Niger. Former White House chief of staff John Kelly confirmed an Atlantic report that Trump questioned why France should visit cemeteries filled with “losers.” Trump denies making those comments.
The Trump campaign is trying to go on the offensive on the military service issue, attacking Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, the Minnesota Democrat, for resigning from the National Guard just months before troops were scheduled to deploy overseas.
Relatives of those killed during the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan spoke at the Republican National Convention last month, criticizing the Biden administration and arguing that the current administration has not properly commemorated the victims.
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