Featured Image Credit: Jim WATSON / AFP via Getty Images
Topics: News, US News, Donald Trump
Gerrard Kaonga
Topics: News, US News, Donald Trump
Donald Trump has been mocked on social media for seemingly ruining what should have been a wonderful moment for a veteran.
Trump isn’t a stranger to blunders, despite mocking Joe Biden repeatedly during his tenure as President.
And his latest awkward moment has got people talking on social media.
On Monday (March 2) Trump bestowed the Medal of Honor to three individuals at a ceremony at the White House.
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Trump claimed all three were ‘incredible American heroes’, noting that two had died and one was living.
The president posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Master Sgt. Roderick (Roddie) W. Edmonds; posthumously awarded the medal to Staff Sgt. Michael H. Ollis and awarded the medal to Command Sergeant Major Terry P. Richardson.
The moment when Trump put the medal on the neck of Major Terry P. Richardson is what has got people talking, however.
A video of this moment has gone viral on social media.
Trump is seen tapping Richardson on the shoulder before putting the medal around his neck, taking a few seconds to get it fastened.
The POTUS then gave Richardson another shoulder pat and the pair shook hands however online many people felt the ribbon was so short it could have 'choked' the veteran.
Despite the fact that Medals of Honor ribbons are comparatively short and sit high on the recipient, people still had plenty of jokes about the whole scene.
One user joked: “First thing DOGE cut was the ribbon budget.
And another added: “why is it so tight? they didn't have a longer ribbon? Wtf.”
With a third writing: “I guess you’re wondering why I have this dog collar around my neck. Well, it’s a funny story…..”
Some people did note that the medal has appeared tight on other recipients in the past, sharing images as proof.
The Medal of Honor is the highest military honor that can be given and according to the White House is given to those who ‘distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their own lives above and beyond the call of duty’.
The White House has said the honorees are individuals who ‘engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.’