BEDMINSTER, NJ — Former President Donald Trump praised Republican donor Miriam Adelson, whom he awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, calling it a "better" award than the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration, because recipients of the Medal of Honor often die or are wounded in the process.
Speaking at a campaign event addressing antisemitism, Trump was introduced by Miriam Adelson, the wealthy Republican donor and widow of Sheldon Adelson, who contributed millions to Republican candidates before his passing in 2021.
"I remember seeing Sheldon beaming with pride at the White House as we presented Miriam with the Presidential Medal of Freedom," Trump said at his New Jersey resort.
"It’s the highest honor you can receive as a civilian. It’s on par with the Medal of Honor," Trump continued, referring to the military decoration awarded for extraordinary valor in combat. The Medal of Honor is often mistakenly called the Congressional Medal of Honor.
"But the civilian version is actually much better because those who get the Medal of Honor, they’re soldiers. They’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been shot multiple times, or they’re dead," Trump remarked. "But she received it, and she’s a healthy, beautiful woman. They’re considered equal, but she got the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and she got it through — and it’s all through committees and everything else."
Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, R-Ohio, have criticized Democratic vice-presidential candidate Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, focusing on his military record and attempting to make military service reverence a campaign issue. Vance, a veteran himself, criticized Walz for retiring after more than 20 years in the National Guard, just before his unit was deployed to Iraq. Walz has defended his military service.
Trump awarded Miriam Adelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018, praising her contributions to addiction recovery initiatives and her work as a physician. The Trump White House described her as a "dedicated member of the American Jewish community" who "has supported Jewish schools, Holocaust memorial organizations, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, and Birthright Israel, among many other causes."
President John F. Kennedy established the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963. The award was created to honor civilians who have made contributions to "the security or national interests of the United States," "world peace," or other significant cultural or public or private endeavors. The President can bestow the award at their discretion.
In the 60 years since its creation, the medal has been awarded to over 600 civilians.
The Medal of Honor, originally established in 1861, has been awarded to 3,519 recipients, including over 1,500 during the Civil War. A total of 472 individuals were honored for their service in World War II. There are currently 60 living recipients.
The criteria for receiving the Medal of Honor specify that a service member must "distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity, at the risk of their life above and beyond the call of duty." To be honored, the service member must have engaged in active combat against an enemy of the United States, but there is no requirement for the recipient to have been wounded in action.
For a Medal of Honor to be awarded, the act of bravery must be well-documented with multiple witnesses and submitted through the chain of command, with the President's approval. The accompanying citations typically detail acts of heroism under fire, such as rescuing comrades or civilians in the face of personal danger.
