Trump does more for America’s Veterans than Biden. Hopefully they can resolve this.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), a venerable and influential organization dedicated to advocating for veterans, issued a strong rebuke on Friday against former President Donald Trump’s recent remarks equating the Medal of Honor with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The VFW’s response labeled Trump’s comments as “absurd” and a disservice to the honor and sacrifices associated with the nation’s highest military award.
In a statement released on Friday, VFW National Commander Al Lipphardt expressed profound disappointment over Trump’s comparison. “These absurd remarks not only undermine the prestigious nature of our country’s highest award for bravery but also crudely misrepresent the sacrifices made by those who have gone above and beyond in service to our nation,” Lipphardt asserted.
Trump’s remarks, made at an event at his Bedminster, New Jersey club, suggested that the Presidential Medal of Freedom—a civilian award—was comparable to the Medal of Honor, which is awarded to military personnel who have demonstrated extraordinary valor in combat. Trump remarked that the Presidential Medal of Freedom is “the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor, but for civilians,” and went further to imply that it holds even greater significance, citing the example of Miriam Adelson, a recipient of the Medal of Freedom and an attendee at the event.
This comparison has ignited criticism from veteran advocates and has not been received well by the VFW, who previously demanded an apology from Trump for minimizing the injuries of 34 service members who suffered traumatic brain injuries in 2020. At that time, Trump had downplayed their injuries by referring to them as merely “headaches,” prompting the VFW to call for a more respectful acknowledgment of their sacrifices.
The Trump campaign has not retracted or altered its stance on the recent comments. Corey Lewandowski, a senior advisor to Trump, defended the former president’s remarks in an interview on NewsNation, asserting that civilian achievements should also be recognized with high honors.
This controversy comes as Republicans scrutinize Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Governor Tim Walz’s military service, accusing him of discrepancies in his record. Meanwhile, Republican Vice Presidential candidate Senator JD Vance, a Marine Corps veteran, has also been under scrutiny. Despite the ongoing electoral debate, Lipphardt’s statement underscores a significant concern about the current administration’s respect for military valor.
“When a presidential candidate so blatantly disregards the prestige and solemnity associated with the Medal of Honor, it raises questions about their capacity to honor and uphold the responsibilities of the office,” Lipphardt concluded. “It is especially disappointing coming from someone who has previously held the office and should understand the gravity of such matters.”
