President Donald Trump told a crowd at a Georgia steel plant Thursday that he considered awarding himself the Medal of Honor after visiting Iraq in 2018, declaring he was “extremely brave” during the trip to Al Asad Air Base.
“I flew to Iraq. I was extremely brave. So brave I wanted to give myself the Congressional Medal of Honor,” Trump said during an hour-long speech at Coosa Steel Corporation in Rome, Georgia.
The president’s comments sparked immediate controversy. Trump has never served in the U.S. military and did not see combat during his December 2018 visit to Iraq. He received five draft deferments during the Vietnam War—four for college and a fifth for bone spurs.
The Medal of Honor stands as the highest military award in the United States for valor. More than 3,520 service members have received the honor since its establishment in 1861. The medal recognizes military personnel who have risked their lives “above and beyond the call of duty.” Recipients include Staff Sergeant Earl D. Plumlee, who raced toward insurgents wearing suicide vests to protect fellow service members in Afghanistan.
During the speech, Trump acknowledged the sacrifices of actual medal recipients. “I’ve given out so many to guys that are seriously brave—I mean, they come in with—the arms are missing, the legs are missing, the stories are so unbelievable,” he said. “And I said: it’s a little stretch if I gave myself one of them.”
The 79-year-old president told the audience he might test the legal boundaries of self-awarding the medal, adding that he would “say let’s give it a shot” and suggested he might “win in court after everyone sues me.” Trump later insisted he was “having fun” with the crowd, predicting the media would misrepresent his comments.
Some civilians can qualify for the Citizen Honor Award, which rewards “a singular act of extraordinary heroism or through a prolonged series of selfless acts” by any U.S. citizen, though Trump did not reference this alternative.
This marks the second time Trump has publicly discussed giving himself the medal. He made similar remarks in 2019 during a speech to the 75th annual national convention of American Veterans (AMVETS).
The speech in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District was intended to focus on manufacturing and the economy as Trump campaigns for a replacement for former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned in January after a public falling-out with the president. The president told attendees his administration “inherited a mess with high prices and high inflation.”
Trump claimed victory over affordability concerns, despite polling data suggesting otherwise. A Pew Research Center poll published in early February found only 28 percent of Americans rated the economy good or excellent, while 52 percent said Trump’s policies had made the economy worse.
Trump insisted the affordability issue was solved. “Do you notice what word haven’t you heard over the last two weeks? Affordability. Because I’ve won,” Trump told the crowd.
The president’s remarks came as his administration pursues an aggressive foreign policy agenda. Trump has positioned himself as a peacemaker during his second term while simultaneously issuing threats against Canada, Greenland, and Panama.
Trump has been credited with securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that went into effect in October 2025. His Board of Peace held its inaugural meeting Thursday in Washington, where member nations pledged $7 billion toward Gaza relief and the U.S. committed $10 billion to the initiative. Critics note the board lacks Palestinian representation and that Trump has not secured enough funding to fully rebuild Gaza.
The president is currently threatening Iran with “bad things” if the government does not agree to a peace deal within the next 10 to 15 days. He has also been pushing to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
Chief of staff Susie Wiles recently hosted a strategy meeting with administration officials, warning them to stay on message as midterm elections approach. The meeting acknowledged that affordability would remain a major issue for voters.
Trump’s visit to the Rome steel plant marked his latest attempt to address economic concerns in swing states, though the president spent significant portions of the speech discussing topics ranging from foreign policy to his own potential awards. First Lady Melania Trump accompanied the president during his 2018 Iraq visit, which he referenced during Thursday’s remarks.
