JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump said he had considered awarding himself the Congressional Medal of Honor for his visit to US troops in Iraq in December 2018, describing the trip as an act of courage.
Speaking in Rome, Georgia, President Trump recalled a surprise visit to Al Asad Air Base in Anbar Province, Iraq, according to People Magazine.
"I decided to go to Iraq. I was very brave. So brave that I wanted to award myself with the Congressional Medal of Honor," recalled President Trump, as quoted by Anadolu (20/2).
"I said to my people, 'Am I allowed to award myself the Congressional Medal of Honor?'" he added.
President Trump acknowledged that the award had been given to "so many really brave people," noting many recipients suffered severe combat injuries.
"And I said it was a bit excessive if I were to award myself," he said.
"This is one of the things I'll try one day. I'll test the law," he added, saying: "You know, I'm having fun."
Medal of Honor is the "most prestigious military award in the United States" given to members of the US armed forces who distinguish themselves "by acts of valor in battle," according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
Only 3,528 of the approximately 40 million Americans who have served in the military have received the award, and there are currently 61 living recipients.
Previously, President Trump recently said that he deserved the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for having resolved "seven endless wars."
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
