Former President Donald Trump recently made controversial remarks comparing the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Medal of Honor, stating that the civilian award is 'much better' because recipients of the military decoration are often wounded or awarded posthumously. Trump praised Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson, whom he had awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom during his time in office, highlighting the significance of the civilian honor.
Trump's comments drew attention to his history of making disparaging remarks about military service, including previous controversial statements about Senator John McCain's war hero status and reported comments about fallen soldiers as 'losers' and 'suckers.' Despite receiving draft deferments during the Vietnam War, Trump has made insensitive comparisons to military experiences in the past.
