President Trump declared during a Black History Month reception that Dr. Ben Carson, the former Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“Ben’s getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom. That’s the highest award you could have outside of the Congressional Medal of Honor. But it’s better because, you know, a lot of people get the Congressional Medal of Honor, they’re not around,” Trump said. “Whereas we don’t have to go that far. Generally speaking, but it’s the highest award, civilian. And then you have the matching, which is the Congressional Medal of Honor, both tremendous.”
“So Ben, I’ll be seeing you back here pretty soon, I think, and you’re going to get the award. You’ll probably fill up the room. I said we’ll do it in the Oval Office. He said, Sir, it’s not big enough. I said what? So we’re going to do it right here. Okay?”
President Trump first announced plans to give Carson the honor in September. “We are going to be presenting Dr. Ben Carson with the highest civilian award and honor in our country. It’s the civilian version of the Medal of Honor, which is our highest military award. It’s the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Trump said during an event with the Carson-founded American Cornerstone Institute.
“Congratulations, Ben,” Trump added. “He didn’t know this. He didn’t know it. I hope he’s happy.”
The American Cornerstone Institute said Carson is “ensuring there is an organization fighting for the principles that have guided him through life, and that make this country great: Faith, Liberty, Community, and Life.”
