# Trump not giving out medal of freedom **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 25, 2018, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500 "2018-10-25T15:40:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/21 "2018-10-26T01:45:11Z")
Perhaps he is too busy carrying out presidential duties, er I mean watching Fox news, to do it. As an aside, how do you do crossed out fonts? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/22 "2018-10-26T01:52:21Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > As an aside, how do you do crossed out fonts? {del} and {/del} only use ] and [ instead of } and {. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/23 "2018-10-26T03:18:02Z")
Trump wants to give the Medal of Freedom to Devin Nunes. > **[Trump suggests Medal of Freedom for Rep. Devin Nunes | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/11/politics/donald-trump-devin-nunes/index.html)** > > President Donald Trump said Thursday that Rep. Devin Nunes, a California Republican who's a major critic of the Justice Department, might deserve the top honor he could bestow on any civilian. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/24 "2018-10-26T04:21:54Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Trump wants to give the Medal of Freedom to Devin Nunes. It’ll be embarrassing for Nunes if he accepts a Medal of Freedom for his payoff and he ends up needing a pardon later on. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/25 "2018-10-26T04:44:12Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I can’t see thump ever giving out any kind of medal to anyone. Unless he gets one, too. I call to your attention the incident of the two scoops of ice cream and rest my case. Well, he’s given out a number of Medals of Honor to military personnel. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/26 "2018-10-26T07:17:22Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Well, he’s given out a number of Medals of Honor to military personnel. For every one he gave out, he probably pocketed two for himself. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/27 "2018-10-26T18:29:41Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I can’t see thump ever giving out any kind of medal to anyone. Unless he gets one, too. I call to your attention the incident of the two scoops of ice cream and rest my case. > [@Velocity](#): > > Well, he’s given out a number of Medals of Honor to military personnel. But it’s actually Congress who decides who gets those. He’s just the guy who presents it _on behalf_ of Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/28 "2018-10-26T18:40:41Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > It’ll be embarrassing for Nunes if he accepts a Medal of Freedom for his payoff and he ends up needing a pardon later on. Embarrassing for whom? Neither Trump nor Nunes seem capable of being shamed by their actions. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/29 "2018-10-26T19:11:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Trump not giving out medal of freedom Geez, Cesar Sayoc’s day just keeps getting worse and worse… ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/30 "2018-10-26T20:06:22Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Geez, Cesar Sayoc’s day just keeps getting worse and worse… The MAGAbomber may still get one, plus a pardon. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/31 "2018-10-28T19:39:48Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/32 "2018-10-28T21:34:41Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Embarrassing for whom? Neither Trump nor Nunes seem capable of being shamed by their actions. > > Stranger ‘Shamelessness is not, and will never be, a superpower’ - Jim Carrey at Trump in the extraordinary awards show speech. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Some_Call_Me.Tim)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2018, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/33 "2018-10-28T22:00:53Z")
The explanation is quite simple. As noted in the article linked to the OP, Barack Obama gave out the most of these of any President. Trump is simply taking his default action of “do the opposite of whatever Obama did”. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2018, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/34 "2018-10-28T22:27:05Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > But it’s actually Congress who decides who gets those. He’s just the guy who presents it _on behalf_ of Congress. That’s incorrect. The President is the final step in the approval process and has to approve all awards of the Medal of Honor. ([Cite with the entire process.](https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/process.html)) Congress created the Medal of Honor in legislation. It’s presented in the name of Congress but they don’t have a role in the approval process if the chain of command forwards the recommendation within two years. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/35 "2018-10-29T01:45:34Z")
It isn’t just the Presidential Medal of Freedom. No National Humanities Medals have been awarded since Obama’s term. No National Medals of Science have been awarded since Obama’s term. No National Medals of Technology and Innovation have been awarded since Obama’s term. Nor National Medals of Arts. That’s just off the top of my head; doubtless this caricature of a President is deficient in many of his other duties as well. The sheer incompetence of this Administration boggles the mind. I’d repost some of the links to stories in respected sources, e.g. _The Atlantic_, documenting this but there’s no point: Most of us have already clicked; the rest wouldn’t click even if you promised them fifteen brand-new #MAGA hats. Rick Perry had no clue what the DoE did 2 years ago, and still doesn’t. Ross and Mnuchin are near-billionaires hired to “drain the swamp” who have instead used their power criminally to further enrich themselves. Trump is a dotard with the attention span of a rodent. Trump insiders may have considered the idea of giving these prestigious Medals to Sean Hannity, Kanye West, Rush Limbaugh and others of this ilk but the adult babysitters discouraged such ideas — even some Republicans would see such awards as farcical. To give such medals to people who deserve them — the best artists, humanitarians, top scientists, real heroes — would invite disaster. Most intelligent Americans despise this buffoon; so he despises them. Even if the awardee accepted the Medal, Trump would find a way to embarrass himself. Most of the top Americans are just hoping we can stumble through another 27 months without catastrophe. Awards can come later. ETA: The list of Humanities Medalists is a U.S. government webpage: [https://www.neh.gov/whoweare/awards.html](https://www.neh.gov/whoweare/awards.html) Error code 404. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/36 "2018-10-29T02:17:15Z")
The Pubs don’t like science because it interferes with profit making. So they pretend like science doesn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/37 "2018-10-29T02:35:27Z")
> [@Some\_Call\_Me.Tim](#): > > The explanation is quite simple. As noted in the article linked to the OP, Barack Obama gave out the most of these of any President. Trump is simply taking his default action of “do the opposite of whatever Obama did”. Obama was in favor of freedom. So Trump opposes it. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/38 "2018-10-29T03:32:16Z")
Trump wants the medals, and he’s working out a way to get them. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2018, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/39 "2018-10-29T04:23:03Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Most of the top Americans are just hoping we can stumble through another 27 months without catastrophe. Awards can come later. All the medals not given out now will go to those who have to clean up the mess. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500/40 "2018-11-10T19:10:08Z")
I guess they figured out dead people cannot turn down a medal. Babe Ruth, Elvis, Scalia and others getting the medal. [Babe Ruth, Roger Staubach, Alan Page to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom](http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/25232862/babe-ruth-roger-staubach-alan-page-receive-presidential-medal-freedom) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-not-giving-out-medal-of-freedom/823500.md?page=3)