At the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington on Sept. 10, President Donald Trump joked that he would award himself the Congressional Medal of Honor, noting 15 of the 65 living recipients were present. He said rules prevent him from doing so and complained that sarcasm in politics is often taken literally by the media. Trump has made similar remarks before, including joking about giving medals to his sons during the dedication of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military decoration for valor in combat.
Trump Jokes He'd Award Himself the Medal of Honor: "I'm Only Kidding. Actually, I'm Not Kidding"
Donald Trump takes the stage during an event at the National Medal of Honor Museum on September 10, 2026 in Arlington, TexasCredit: Andrew Harnik/Getty
President Donald Trump, 80, joked on Sept. 10 that he would award himself the Congressional Medal of Honor while speaking at the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas. He noted that 15 of the 65 living recipients were in attendance and said he would give himself the decoration if rules allowed.
Donald Trump speaks at the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas on September 10, 2026Credit: Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty
Speaking to the audience, Trump said he had “studied” the medal and quipped he would add himself to the roll of recipients, acknowledging the remark would draw headlines. He blamed the media for taking sarcasm literally, saying politicians “can't be sarcastic, you can't have any fun” without comments being misreported.
Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with travel industry executives in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DCCredit: Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty
Earlier the same day, at a private ceremony at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library where he donated Theodore Roosevelt's Medal of Honor, Trump again said he wanted a medal for himself and recalled asking aides what he had done to deserve it. On July 1, while dedicating the Roosevelt library in Medora, North Dakota, he made a similar tongue-in-cheek comment about awarding the honor to himself and two of his sons.
The Medal of Honor is the United States' highest military decoration, given for “gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty,” typically for actions in combat. Trump contrasted that wartime bravery with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which he described as a civilian honor often awarded to living achievers in fields such as sports and the arts.
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