Donald Trump appeared to have difficulty tying the Medal of Honor around the neck of a war veteran. The awkward moment occurred during a ceremony at the White House on Thursday. The president presented the military’s highest honor to three veterans, honoring their heroism in Vietnam and Afghanistan.
Donald Trump visibly struggles with Medal of Honor clasp
On Thursday, June 18, Donald Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to Marine Corps Maj. James Capers Jr., Army Maj. Nicholas Dockery and, posthumously to Marine Corps Col. John W. Ripley, who passed away in 2008. The veterans received the nation’s highest military decoration “for acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty.”
Capers, 88, made his way to the stage first with assistance, before Trump tied the Medal of Honor around his neck. The ribbons holding the medal reportedly feature a clasp at the end for smooth attachment.
While presenting the medal to Capers, Trump appeared to whisper, “It’s beautiful, it’s beautiful.” The POTUS then moved in front of Capers, saying, “Let me see what it looks like… we gotta make this perfect.”
However, when it was Army Maj. Nicholas Dockery’s turn to receive the Medal of Honor, Trump reportedly ran into some issues while clasping it around his neck. The president reportedly struggled to fasten it for almost a minute before he gave up and said, “I’m gonna do it a little differently, I’m gonna do it even nicer.”
Trump proceeded to tie the medal into a knot by hand. “Now that’s not coming off now,” the president joked before turning to pose with Dockery for photos.
During the Thursday ceremony, Donald Trump honored the veterans, including the late Marine Corps Col. John W. Ripley, saying, “These are great men, great people.” He added, “We thank you, and we will never, ever forget you.”
Originally reported by Namrata Ghosh on Mandatory.
