Former President Donald Trump said Thursday that the highest civilian honor was better than the highest military honor because those recipients are in “very bad shape” or have died.
He made the comments at an anti-Semitic event at his Bedminster, New Jersey, resort, where he praised Miriam Adelson, the widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who has long funded Republican political campaigns.
Trump reminded the audience how he had awarded Miriam Adelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018, misstating that it was equivalent to the “Congressional Medal of Honor.”
The highest military decoration is known simply as the Medal of Honor.
“It’s actually a lot better,” Trump said. “They all get the Congressional Medal of Honor because they’re soldiers. They’re either in pretty bad shape because they’ve been hit by a lot of 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 highest civilian honor was better than the highest military honor because those recipients are in “very bad shape” or have died.
Trump (left) reminded the audience how he had awarded Miriam Adelson (right) the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018, misstating it and saying it is equivalent to the ‘Congressional Medal of Honor.’
“And they are valued equally,” he said of the two honors.
The comments come after Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, sought 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 failed to 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 US military, said Walz was guilty of “stolen valor.”
Walz defended himself against the accusation 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 very 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 have just 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 criticized Trump on Friday for comments he made about civilian honor being better than that given to the military.
“Donald Trump knows nothing about serving anyone or anything except himself,” spokeswoman Sarafina Chitika said. “The fact that he would 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 serving our country as ‘suckers’ and ‘losers,’ should remind all Americans that we owe it to our service members, our country, and our future to ensure that Donald Trump is never again our nation’s commander in chief.”
Trump’s former chief of staff, John Kelly, confirmed that the now ex-president had called the veterans who died “stupid” in 2018.
The Atlantic reported before the 2020 election that Trump canceled his trip to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in France because his hair would look bad in photos because it was raining.
“Why should I go to the cemetery?” Trump reportedly said. “It’s full of losers.”