00:00President Donald Trump suggested he may try to change the law so he could award himself
00:03the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest U.S. military decoration, while speaking during
00:08a speech in Georgia. During his remarks, the 79-year-old president recalled previously
00:13considering the idea after visiting Iraq in his first term, saying he had asked advisors
00:17whether he could give himself the medal but was talked out of it. Trump told the crowd
00:21that he had awarded the medal to service members he described as extremely brave,
00:25including those who had lost limbs in war, and acknowledged that giving it to himself would be,
00:29in his words, a little stretch. He nevertheless added that it was something he might try in the
00:34future, stating that he could test the law and see what happens if challenged in court.
00:38The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest and most prestigious military decoration awarded
00:43by the United States government to service members who risk their lives or go beyond the call of duty
00:47in combat. Trump, who did not serve in the military and received five draft deferments, would not be
00:53eligible for the award under current standards. In the same speech, he claimed that flying to Iraq
00:57demonstrated bravery and said he had once asked his team whether he was allowed to award himself
01:02the Congressional Medal of Honor. After making the remarks, Trump later told the crowd he was
01:06having fun, adding that he expected media coverage to portray the comments as serious.
01:12This was not the first time he raised the idea. Similar comments were made during his first term,
01:17including during a 2019 speech to the American Veterans National Convention following a surprise
01:22visit to U.S. troops at Al-Assad Air Force Base in December 2018. The president has also previously
01:28faced criticism over comments related to military honors. During the 2024 campaign, he said the
01:34Presidential Medal of Freedom was much better than the Medal of Honor, noting that soldiers
01:39often received the latter in poor condition or posthumously. In addition, he expressed interest in
01:44another major award, mentioning the Nobel Peace Prize while hosting international leaders for a meeting of
01:49his Board of Peace in Washington. Share your thoughts in the comments and do like for more updates.
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