Donald Trump caused quite a stir during his State of the Union speech held on Tuesday, February 24. Some of the president’s revelations have raised eyebrows and shocked many people.
During the speech, Trump said that he wanted to grant himself the Congressional Medal of Honor – the highest form of honor given to the United States military when they show moral bravery and risk their lives for others.
While he wishes to get the award, Trump has never actually been in the military. Trump did not participate in military service despite having multiple opportunities to do so, especially during the Vietnam war. He obtained five draft deferments in total – four while he was in college and one due to an alleged bone spurs in his heel.
However, in 2019, former Trump attorney Michael Cohen said that the president’s bone spurs claim was made up in order to avoid serving in the military.
— Harish Chandra (@HarishChan20246) February 24, 2026
Trump mentioned in his speech that the only reason he does not have the Medal of Honor yet is because he learned he could not give the award to himself. “I’ve always wanted the Congressional Medal of Honor, but I was informed I’m not allowed to give it to myself. And I don’t know why I’d be taking it,” he said during his address.
The president further added that if the law regarding the honor changes, he will be happy to award himself.
Trump, who skipped his fifth chance of joining the military because of his alleged foot bone spur issue, reportedly never provided any proof of the same. According to Cohen, there are no medical records or surgery papers related to the president’s alleged bone spur.
Cohen claimed that Trump had said during that time not to give more details about his bone spur to the media. He added that the president insisted on only informing the press the fact that he received a medical deferment because of an issue that prevented him from joining the military.
Trump allegedly told Cohen, “You think I’m stupid? I wasn’t going to Vietnam.”
The president’s speech regarding his wish to receive the Medal of Honor comes after his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, gave the same award to Royce Williams, a 100-year-old soldier, for his service during the Korean War.
— Harish Chandra (@HarishChan20246) February 25, 2026
Trump’s desire to get the Medal of Honor is long-rooted, as this is not the first time he has spoken about his of receiving the award. He also mentioned it during his 75th annual national convention of American veterans in 2019.
Notably, in August 2025, Trump sparked controversy after seeming to claim that the civilian Medal of Freedom is “better” than the Medal of Honor. He said, “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.”
