Former President Donald Trump sparked controversy after describing the Presidential Medal of Freedom as "much better" than the Medal of Honor , suggesting that the military award often goes to service members who are severely wounded or deceased. The comments, made at a campaign event at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf club, add to a series of remarks from Trump that critics say show disdain for military service members who are wounded, captured, or killed. At the event, which was billed as a discussion on fighting antisemitism, Trump recounted awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Miriam Adelson, the widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and a significant donor to Trump’s campaigns.
He contrasted the civilian honor with the Medal of Honor, inaccurately referring to it as the "Congressional Medal of Honor," and claimed the two awards were "rated equal." "I have to say Miriam, I watched Sheldon sitting so proud in the White House when we gave Miriam the Presidential Medal of Freedom, that's the highest award you can get as a civilian," Trump said during a pro-Israel event. "It's the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor, but civilian version — it's actually much better because everyone gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, they're soldiers, they are even in very bad shape because they have been hit so many times by bullets or they are dead.
" "She gets it and she's a healthy, beautiful, woman," Trump said to some applause. "They are rated equal." In resp.