WASHINGTON – Veterans rebuked former President Donald Trump this weekend for saying the Presidential Medal of Freedom is “much better” than the military Medal of Honor because recipients of the latter are often badly wounded or dead.
Others noted that Trump has reportedly described veterans as “suckers” and “losers,” comments Trump has vehemently denied.
During the 2016 campaign, Trump denigrated the imprisonment of 2008 GOP presidential nominee and former Vietnam POW John McCain.
There are currently 60 living recipients of the Medal of Honor.”
The Kamala Harris campaign also criticized Trump’s Medal of Honor comments.
Washington: This past weekend, veterans chastised former President Donald Trump for claiming that the Presidential Medal of Freedom is “much better” than the Medal of Honor given to military personnel, as the latter’s recipients are frequently fatally injured or severely injured.
In a statement, Al Lipphardt, national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said, “These inane remarks not only diminish the significance of our nation’s highest award for valor, but also crassly characterize the sacrifices of those who have risked their lives above and beyond the call of duty.”.
At a campaign event on Thursday at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf club, Trump made the remarks while discussing the Presidential Medal of Freedom’s recipient, Dr. Miriam Adelson, a well-known Republican Party donor and physician.
“In reality, it’s much better because everyone receives the Congressional Medal of Honor, including the soldiers who are either dead or in extremely bad condition from being hit by bullets so many times,” Trump remarked.
The late Sheldon Adelson, a prominent GOP donor and casino mogul, left behind a widow, Adelson.
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The former president “was simply saying how it can be an emotionally difficult experience to give the Congressional Medal of Honor to veterans who have been wounded or tragically killed defending our country, as he proudly did when he was Commander in Chief,” according to Karoline Leavitt, national press secretary for the Trump campaign. ****.
Others brought up the claim that Trump called veterans “losers” and “suckers,” something the president has angrily denied. Trump disparaged the 2008 Republican presidential candidate and former POW in Vietnam, John McCain, while running for office in 2016.
Mr. Jack Reed (D-R). Me. , the head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, declared that Trump’s “egregious and shameful remarks about injured soldiers and their families are a recurring pattern.”. Someone who constantly mocks injured soldiers and disparages our armed forces is unfit to serve as Commander in Chief. “.”.
The Medal of Honor is given to service members who “distinguish themselves ‘through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty,” according to a statement released by Reed’s office. Years of exhaustive, in-depth evaluation at the highest levels are frequently required for the process. There are presently 60 Medal of Honor recipients who are still alive. “.
The Kamala Harris campaign also took issue with Trump’s remarks regarding the Medal of Honor. “Trump knows nothing about service to anyone or anything but himself,” stated Sarafina Chitika, a spokeswoman. “.”.
Senior Trump aide Brian Hughes claimed that Trump had done more for veterans than the current government, and he said that Biden and Harris had “bragged of being the last ones in the room as they set in motion our disastrous retreat from Afghanistan.”. “.”.
