The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) issued a statement condemning former President Trump’s recent remarks comparing the Medal of Honor to a presidential award for civilians, calling his comments “asinine.” The VFW’s National Commander Al Lipphardt criticized Trump for diminishing the significance of the nation’s highest award for valor and disrespecting the sacrifices made by soldiers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Trump’s comparison of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Medal of Honor sparked outrage among veteran rights advocates and allies, who defended the importance of the military award.
This is not the first time Trump has faced backlash for disparaging comments about wounded veterans. In 2020, the VFW demanded an apology from the president after he downplayed the injuries of 34 service members who suffered traumatic brain injuries in retaliatory Iranian airstrikes, referring to their conditions as “headaches.” The organization emphasized the seriousness of traumatic brain injuries and called for Trump to apologize to the service members for his remarks. Despite the criticism, the Trump camp has stood by the former president’s recent comments about the Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In an interview with NewsNation, Trump campaign senior advisor Corey Lewandowski defended Trump’s comparison of the two awards, arguing that there are civilians who deserve to be recognized with the highest honors our country has to offer. The controversy surrounding Trump’s comments coincides with Republicans’ attempts to attack Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz’s service record, accusing him of stolen valor due to discrepancies in his public comments about his military service in the Army National Guard. Republican VP-hopeful Sen. JD Vance, who served in the Marines during the Iraq war, has also been highlighted for his military background.
The VFW previously praised both campaigns for selecting veterans as candidates, but their confidence in the Republican campaign appears to have waned following Trump’s remarks about the Medal of Honor. Lipphardt expressed disappointment in Trump’s dismissal of the valor and reverence symbolized by the award, questioning whether he would fulfill his responsibilities with the seriousness and discernment required of a commander-in-chief. The VFW’s statement underscores the organization’s commitment to upholding the honor and sacrifice of military service members, particularly those who have been recognized with the Medal of Honor.
