Trump to Award Medal of Freedom to Ben Carson

President Donald Trump announced plans to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former HUD Secretary Ben Carson during a White House event celebrating the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. The gathering saw attendees expressing their support with chants of “Four more years!” at certain moments.

He remarked, “Ben will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award other than the Congressional Medal of Honor.” Trump assured Carson that a future ceremony would be dedicated to the award, adding, “Ben, you’ll see me here soon. I’m sure you’ll get it.”

The event featured numerous African American leaders, where the president intertwined eulogies and cultural nods with discussions on policy matters like criminal justice reform and crime reduction.

“We celebrate the 100th anniversary of Black History Month,” Trump stated at the start. He also acknowledged Rev. Jesse Jackson’s recent passing, saying, “I wanted to start by expressing the sadness of his passing. I knew he was quite the character, but he was a good man.” Trump referred to Jackson as a “true hero,” highlighting his character and determination.

Trump introduced Scott Turner, the current HUD Secretary, before bringing Carson to the forefront. Carson praised Turner’s work on Opportunity Zones, noting, “He really was the driving force behind Opportunity Zones,” and described Trump’s approach as a collaborative endeavor with strong participation from various stakeholders.

Later, Trump elaborated on the significance of the award. “Many have received the Congressional Medal of Honor, but there’s no one quite like that, so it’s better this way. But it’s the best award for us civilians,” he clarified. After thanking Leo Terrell, the audience responded with chants for more years of Trump’s presidency.

Trump appreciated various artists and athletes, including rapper Nicki Minaj, mentioning, “I love Nicki Minaj. She was here a few weeks ago as well. So beautiful, and she really gets it.” He tied the celebration to a larger context, emphasizing that “Black History Month is really about American history.”

Throughout the event, the president highlighted his administration’s efforts for Black communities, asserting, “I secured record long-term funding for historically Black colleges and universities” and reiterating their achievements in reforming criminal justice, stating, “No one thought we could do it.”

Trump expressed confidence about upcoming elections, suggesting, “I wouldn’t be surprised if in 2024 we win more African-American votes than any Republican president in history.” He pointed out favorable economic indicators, mentioning that the Dow Jones Industrial Average recently surpassed $50,000 and employment for African Americans rose by 182,000 since he took office.

He invited small business owners from Arkansas to talk about his tax policies, noting, “It’s a great blessing to me that there’s no tax on tips.” The president then shifted focus to crime and border security, asserting the need for order and stating, “Washington, D.C., is great. It was once a crime capital; a year ago it was dangerous. Now it’s among the safest cities in America.”

He noted that the murder rate was at its lowest in 125 years, adding, “Just one year ago we had the worst border, and now it’s the safest.” Trump emphasized the deployment of the National Guard to improve safety in various cities, calling them “incredible.” He then invited Alice Johnson, referred to as the White House’s “pardon czar,” to discuss her case, explaining how she received a reduced sentence and was granted a full pardon.

Johnson credited Trump for enacting the First Step Act, highlighting its historic impact and stating, “More than 40,000 people went home early to their families.” Trump concluded the rally by calling it a unique gathering, wishing everyone a “truly happy Black History Month, a truly happy Black History Year, and a truly happy Black History Century.”