Trump doubles down on controversial Medal of Honor claim, Internet says 'he hates the military'

YORK, PENNSYLVANIA: GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump has doubled down on his claim that the Presidential Medal of Freedom is 'much better' than the Congressional Medal of Honor, according to Mediaite.

Trump faced criticism on August 16, when he lauded wealthy donor Miriam Adelson on whom he bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom as having gotten the 'better' award compared to the top military honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

"That’s the highest award you can get as a civilian," Trump said.

Trump doubles down on his claims of Medal of Freedom 'better' than Medal of Honor

A local Pennsylvania television station asked Trump on Saturday, August 17, about the ensuing controversy to which he replied, "I only heard when I say ‘better,’ I would rather, in a certain way, get it, because people that get the Congressional Medal of Honor — which I’ve given to many — are often horribly wounded or dead."

He added, "They’re often dead. They get it posthumously. When you get the Congressional Medal of Honor — I always consider that to be the ultimate, but it is a painful thing to get it. When you get the Presidential Medal of Freedom, it’s usually for other things, like you’ve achieved great success in sports or you’ve achieved great success someplace else."

Trump told a crowd of supporters on Thursday, August 15, as per NBC News "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. It’s the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor."

He added, "But civilian version, it’s actually much better because everyone [who] gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, they're soldiers. They’re either in very bad shape because they’ve been hit so many times by bullets or they’re dead."

John Kelly rejects Trump’s remarks that civilian award is 'much better'

Former Trump chief of staff annd retired Marine General John Kelly rejected Trump’s comments that the Presidential Medal of Freedom that honors civilians was 'much better' than the Medal of Honor given to service members, and informed CNN that the two honors are 'Not even close. No equivalency of any kind'.

He said, "The Presidential Medal of Freedom is given for some good works done or in fewer cases for other considerations, but they’re not even close."

He added, "The Medal of Honor is earned, not won, by incredibly brave actions on the battlefield under fire typically by very young men who joined when others did not to defend their country. Their oath to the nation is essentially the oath the president and members of Congress take, that federal judges take, and political appointees also take."

"To the service member, the oath is sacred and taken with the understanding that one could be seriously wounded, captured or killed in living up to the words. No president, member of Congress, judge or political appointee — and certainly no recipient of the Presidential Medal — will ever be asked to give life or limb to protect the Constitution. The two awards cannot be compared in any way. Not even close," he further mentioned.

Internet slams Trump for doubling down on his claims

Several internet users slammed Trump as he doubled down on his claims that the Presidential Medal of Freedom is 'much better' than Congressional Medal of Honor.

One online comment read, "It's as if Trump doesn't WANT to win. Keep it up", while another added, "Medal of Honor is better. You have to earn it. Medal of Freedom can be bought."

A person also said, "He hates the military. It really is that simple", whereas one mentioned, "Trump's self destruction is a beautiful thing to behold."

A user also wrote, "They keep giving him chances to walk back his appalling comments, and every time, he makes it worse. Donald the Infallible lmao", while one commented, "As a convicted Felon Trump would not be allowed on any Military Base."

A person added, "The cons are in a really bad mood. I would be to If I had bought a bunch of Trump media stock", whereas one wrote, "Keep digging, Donnie."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.