{"id":2326845,"date":"2024-08-19T13:48:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-19T17:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/john-kelly-clashes-with-trump-about-medal-of-honor-comments-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-19T13:50:38","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T17:50:38","slug":"john-kelly-clashes-with-trump-about-medal-of-honor-comments-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/john-kelly-clashes-with-trump-about-medal-of-honor-comments-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"John Kelly clashes with Trump about Medal of Honor comments &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjohn-kelly-clashes-with-trump-about-medal-of-honor-comments-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2326845&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly has\u200d publicly criticized former President \u2063Donald Trump regarding his recent comments that equated the Medal \u200bof Honor with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. \u2062Kelly, who has been an\u200c outspoken Trump \u200ccritic since resigning in January\u200d 2019, emphasized that \u200bthe two awards are fundamentally different. In \u2063an interview on CNN, he stated that the Medal of Honor is earned through extraordinary acts of bravery in combat, while\u200c the Presidential Medal of \u2064Freedom is typically awarded for various accomplishments without the same level of sacrifice. Kelly referenced historical battles to \u2063illustrate the significance and \u2062gravity of the Medal\u2062 of Honor, asserting that no political figure \u200cor civilian medal recipient faces the same risks as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">military service members<\/a>. This exchange was\u200c prompted by Trump&#8217;s remarks about awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to donor\u2062 Miriam\u2064 Adelson, wherein Trump\u200c suggested it holds equal significance to the Medal \u200bof Honor. Kelly&#8217;s comments highlight the ongoing tensions between him and Trump, particularly regarding the treatment of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sonny-boy-saunders-laid-to-rest-in-texas-80-years-after-pearl-harbor-welcome-home-and-god-bless-you\/\" title=\"\u2018Sonny Boy\u2019 Saunders Laid to Rest in Texas 80 Years After Pearl Harbor: &#039;Welcome Home and God Bless You&#039;\">military honors<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">John Kelly clashes with Trump about Medal of Honor comments<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_815024\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Former White House chief of staff <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-kelly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"John Kelly\">John Kelly<\/a> blasted former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Donald Trump's\">Donald Trump&rsquo;s<\/a> comparison of the Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, saying the awards aren&rsquo;t remotely comparable.<\/p>\n<p>Kelly, a persistent Trump critic since resigning from the Trump administration in January 2019, voiced another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/08\/19\/politics\/john-kelly-donald-trump-medal-of-honor\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"objection to\">objection on<\/a> CNN after Trump compared the two highest military and civilian medals.<\/p>\n<p>Kelly said the Presidential Medal of Freedom is &ldquo;given for some good works done or in fewer cases for other considerations, but they&rsquo;re not even close.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Think of Normandy, Iwo Jima, Vietnam, or Fallujah,&rdquo; he continued. &ldquo;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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;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,&rdquo; Kelly added.&nbsp;&ldquo;No president, member of Congress, judge, or political appointee, and certainly no recipient of the Presidential Medal,&nbsp;will ever be asked to give life or limb to protect the Constitution. The two awards cannot be compared in any way &mdash; not even close.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>His remarks were triggered by recent comments from Trump, who spoke of awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to major GOP donor Miriam Adelson. After pointing out that the two medals are the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/our-prayers-are-with-rush-limbaughs-producer-issues-statement-amid-radio-hosts-absence\/\" title=\"\u2018Our Prayers Are With Rush\u2019: Limbaugh\u2019s Producer Issues Statement Amid Radio Host\u2019s Absence\">highest civilian<\/a> and military honors, he argued the Presidential Medal of Freedom is better because it comes without the risk of being killed or wounded.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Miriam, I watched [Sheldon Adelson] sitting so proud in the White House when we gave Miriam the Presidential Medal of Freedom,&rdquo; Trump said, speaking of Miriam Adelson&rsquo;s husband. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s the highest award you can get as a civilian. It&rsquo;s the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor but civilian version. It&rsquo;s actually much better because everyone gets the Congressional Medal of Honor &mdash; that&rsquo;s soldiers. They&rsquo;re either in very bad shape because they&rsquo;ve been hit so many times by bullets or they&rsquo;re dead.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;She gets it and she&rsquo;s a healthy, beautiful woman, and they&rsquo;re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-announces-first-ladys-husband-has-covid-in-latest-gaffe\/\" title=\"Biden Announces \u201cFirst Lady\u2019s Husband\u201d Has COVID in Latest Gaffe\">rated equal<\/a>,&rdquo; he added.<\/p>\n<p>Kelly has been a thorn in Trump&rsquo;s side since leaving his position, offering support for some of the most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/donald-trump\/john-kelly-confirms-trump-privately-disparaged-us-service-members-vete-rcna118543\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>strident criticisms<\/a> the former president has faced &mdash; including saying Trump referred to soldiers who died in combat as &ldquo;suckers&rdquo; and &ldquo;losers.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Kelly&rsquo;s allegation was contradicted by 14 other people present, including Kelly&rsquo;s deputy, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.breitbart.com\/politics\/2020\/09\/07\/exclusive-zach-fuentes-top-aide-to-john-kelly-denies-atlantic-story-about-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Zach Fuentes\">Zach Fuentes<\/a>, and former national security adviser John Bolton, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rep-taylor-greene-dems-police-reform-bill-attacks-law-enforcement\/\" title=\"Rep. Taylor Greene: Dems\u2019 police reform bill attacks law enforcement\">major critic<\/a> of Trump.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t hear either of those comments or anything even resembling them,&rdquo; Bolton <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/transcript\/rep-kevin-brady-praises-extraordinary-august-jobs-reports-warns-tax-hikes-would-damage-economic-recovery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"said\">said<\/a>. &ldquo;I was there at the point in time that morning when it was decided that he would not go to Aisne-Marne cemetery. He decided not to do it because of John Kelly&rsquo;s recommendation. It was entirely a weather-related decision and I thought the proper thing to do.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_815024\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"815024\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>John Kelly criticizes Trump over Medal of Honor remarks Former White House chief of staff John Kelly strongly condemned former President Donald Trump&#8217;s comparison between the Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, asserting that the two awards are not at all alike. Since leaving the Trump administration in January 2019, Kelly has been a vocal critic of Trump and expressed his disapproval on CNN after Trump likened these two prestigious military and civilian honors. Kelly stated that the Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded for various good deeds or other considerations but emphasized that it does not compare to the Medal of Honor. He remarked, \u201cConsider Normandy, Iwo Jima, Vietnam, or Fallujah,\u201d explaining that the Medal of Honor is earned through extraordinary bravery in combat by young individuals who volunteered to defend their country when others did not. <\/p>\n<p>Kelly further noted that for service members, their oath is sacred and comes with an understanding that they may face serious injury or death while upholding it. He asserted that no president, member of Congress, judge, political appointee, or recipient of the Presidential Medal will ever be required to risk their life to protect the Constitution; thus making any comparison between these two awards inappropriate.<\/p>\n<p>His comments were prompted by Trump&#8217;s recent remarks about awarding Miriam Adelson\u2014the wife of major GOP donor Sheldon Adelson\u2014the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Trump claimed this civilian honor was superior because it does not involve risking life or limb like military honors do. He stated during a speech: \u201cThat\u2019s the highest award you can get as a civilian&#8230; It\u2019s actually much better because everyone gets [the Congressional] Medal of Honor\u2014that\u2019s soldiers&#8230; They\u2019re either in very bad shape because they\u2019ve been hit so many times by bullets or they\u2019re dead.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Kelly has consistently challenged Trump since his departure from office and has supported some significant criticisms directed at him\u2014such as allegations regarding Trump&#8217;s derogatory comments about fallen soldiers being &#8220;suckers&#8221; and &#8220;losers.&#8221; However, these claims have been disputed by 14 others present during those discussions\u2014including Zach Fuentes (Kelly&#8217;s deputy) and former national security adviser John Bolton\u2014who both denied hearing such comments made by Trump<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2326846,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/john-kelly.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[38568,33783,4505,5894,3634],"class_list":["post-2326845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-john-kelly","tag-medal-of-honor","tag-military","tag-politics","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/john-kelly.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2326845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2326845"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2326845\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2326846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2326845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2326845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2326845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}