Former President Donald Trump said Thursday that the top civilian honor was better than the top military honor because those recipients are in ‘very bad shape’ or deceased.
He made the comments at an antisemitism event at his Bedminster, New Jersey resort, where he lauded Miriam Adelson, the widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who long bankrolled Republican political campaigns.
Trump reminded the audience how he had presented Miriam Adelson with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018, mispeaking and saying it’s equivalent to the ‘Congressional Medal of Honor.’
The highest military decoration is simply referred to as the Medal of Honor.
‘It’s actually much better,’ Trump commented. ‘Because everyone gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, they’re soldiers. They’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets or they’re dead.’
‘She gets it,’ Trump continued. ‘And she’s a healthy, beautiful woman.’
Former President Donald Trump said Thursday that the top civilian honor was better than the top military honor because those recipients are in ‘very bad shape’ or deceased
Trump (left) reminded the audience how he had presented Miriam Adelson (right) with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018, mispeaking and saying it’s equivalent to the ‘Congressional Medal of Honor’
‘And they’re rated equal,’ he said of the two honors.
The comments come after Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, have tried to tarnish the military service of Democratic vice presidential nominee, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Walz retired after spending 24 years in the National Guard, before his unit was deployed to Iraq.
At times, Walz didn’t correct the record when it was suggested that he served in Afghanistan.
He served in Italy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Vance – who also served in the U.S. military – has claimed Walz is guilty of ‘stolen valor.’
Walz defended himself against the charge during a speech at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees earlier this week in Los Angeles.
‘I’m going to say it again as clearly as I can: I am damn proud of my service to the country,’ the Minnesota governor said. ‘To anyone brave enough to put on that uniform for our great country, including my opponent, I just have a few simple words: Thank you for your service and sacrifice.’
Former President Donald Trump (right) greets Miriam Adelson (left) at an event Thursday night in Bedminster, New Jersey
The Harris-Walz campaign knocked Trump Friday for the comments he made about the civilian honor being better than the one given to servicemembers.
‘Donald Trump knows nothing about service to anyone or anything but himself,’ said spokesperson Sarafina Chitika. ‘For him to insult Medal of Honor recipients, just as he has previously attacked Gold Star families, mocked prisoners of war, and referred to those who lost their lives in service to our country as “suckers” and “losers,” should remind all Americans that we owe it to our service members, our country, and our future to make sure Donald Trump is never our nation’s commander in chief again.’
Trump’s former Chief of Staff John Kelly confirmed that the now ex-president had called dead veterans ‘suckers’ back in 2018.
The Atlantic reported ahead of the election in 2020 that Trump canceled his trip to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in France because his hair would look bad in pictures because it was raining.
‘Why should I go to the cemetery?’ Trump reportedly said. ‘It’s filled with losers.’
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