John Kelly dismisses Trump's assertion that a civilian honor is superior to the Medal of Honor, stating emphatically, "It's not even close."
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded for "some decent deeds done," or sometimes for other reasons, but it's not even in the same league, according to Kelley.
"Imagine Normandy, Iwo Jima, Vietnam, or Fallujah," Kelley told CNN. "The Medal of Honor is earned, not obtained, through exceptionally brave acts on the battlefield under fire, typically by young men who enlisted when others didn't, to protect their country. Their oath to the nation is akin to the oath sworn by the president, members of Congress, federal judges, and political appointees, which includes '...that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties...'
"To the service member, this oath is sacred, taken with the understanding that one may be seriously injured, captured, or killed while fulfilling their duty. No president, congressman, judge, or political appointee – and certainly no recipient of the Presidential Medal – will ever be asked to give their life or limb to protect the Constitution. The two awards cannot be compared in any way. Not even in the slightest."
Trump stated on Thursday, while discussing awarding the Medal of Freedom to GOP donor Miriam Adelson, that it is "actually, much better" than the Medal of Honor "because everyone who gets the congressional medal of honor, that's soldiers. They're either in terrible shape due to multiple bullet wounds, or they're dead."
Over the weekend, when asked if he wanted to clarify his comments, Trump told a local Pennsylvania television station, "I only meant 'better' in a way, I'd rather receive it, because those who get the Congressional Medal of Honor – which I've awarded to many – are often severely injured or dead. They're often dead. They receive it posthumously. When you receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, it's usually for other accomplishments, like achieving great success in sports or some other field."
Last October, Kelly confirmed on CNN, exclusively and on record, previous reporting in The Atlantic magazine about Trump belittling military service members, describing Trump as "a person who thinks those who defend their country in uniform, or are wounded in combat, or spend years being tortured as prisoners of war are 'suckers' because 'there is nothing in it for them.' A person who did not wish to be seen in the presence of military amputees because 'it doesn't look good for me.' A person who showed open contempt for a Gold Star family – for all Gold Star families – on TV during the 2016 campaign, and rants that our most precious heroes who gave their lives in defense of America are 'losers' and wouldn't visit their graves in France."
Trump has disputed making those comments, saying at CNN's June debate, "that was a fabricated quote."
"To believe that I would, in front of generals and others, say suckers and losers – we have 19 people who said it was never said by me," Trump said.
And yet it is retired Marine general and Trump’s longest serving chief of staff Kelly who insists Trump made those comments.
In the context of discussing awards and military service, politics often comes into play when deciding who receives recognition for their achievements. Despite Trump's statements, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Medal of Honor serve distinct purposes and cannot be equated due to the different sacrifices and duties associated with each.
