Listen to the article
President Trump announced that former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a White House event commemorating the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. The announcement came as attendees at the East Room gathering broke into chants of “four more years” at several points during the ceremony.
“Ben’s getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Trump said. “It’s the highest award you can have outside of the Congressional Medal of Honor.” The president indicated that Carson would receive the nation’s top civilian honor at a future ceremony, telling him, “Ben, I’ll be seeing you back here pretty soon. I think you’re going to get the award.”
The event brought together what Trump described as “many exceptional African American leaders and patriots.” During his remarks, Trump paid tribute to the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, who recently passed away. “I wanted to begin by expressing a sadness at the passing of a person who I knew very well. Jesse was a piece of work. But he was a good man,” Trump said, calling Jackson “a real hero” with “lots of personality, grit and street smarts.”
During the ceremony, Trump introduced current HUD Secretary Scott Turner, whom Carson had recommended for the position. Carson praised Turner’s role in developing Opportunity Zones, describing him as “really the driving force behind the Opportunity Zones” and highlighting the administration’s approach of “public private partnerships, with everybody having skin in the game.”
Trump connected the celebration to broader national themes, stating that “Black History Month is really all about American history,” and referenced upcoming America250 programming that will mark the nation’s semiquincentennial.
Throughout his remarks, Trump highlighted a series of policy accomplishments aimed at the Black community. He claimed to have “single-handedly secured record long-term funding” for historically Black colleges and universities and emphasized his administration’s work on criminal justice reform, adding, “Nobody thought it could be done.”
The president cited these policies as reasons for his electoral performance, claiming, “It’s no wonder that in 2024, we won more African-American votes than any Republican president in history.” He also highlighted economic indicators, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising above 50,000 points and the S&P breaking 7,000 for the first time.
“More Americans are working today than at any time in American history,” Trump stated, adding that “since I took office, African American employment has increased by 182,000.” He also promoted his tax policy, inviting a small business owner from Arkansas to speak about the impact of eliminating taxes on tips, which she described as “an amazing blessing.”
Later in his remarks, Trump pivoted to crime and border security, claiming significant improvements in public safety across several cities. “Washington DC is amazing. It was a crime capital. It was a horror show a year ago. It was really dangerous. And now it’s one of the safest cities anywhere in the country,” he said. He also claimed credit for deploying the National Guard to “bring back safety to Memphis and to New Orleans and Washington.”
Among the notable guests recognized during the event was Alice Johnson, whom Trump described as the White House “pardon czar.” Johnson credited Trump with signing the First Step Act, saying, “President Trump did something historic in his first term. He signed the First Step Act into law,” adding that “over 40,000 individuals have come home to their families early” as a result of the legislation.
The president also singled out rapper Nicki Minaj, who was recently at the White House, saying, “I love Nicki Minaj. She was here a couple of weeks ago. So beautiful, and she gets it. And more importantly, she gets it.”
Trump concluded the event by telling the gathering, “So happy Black History Month, happy black history year, and happy black history century.”
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
10 Comments
Overall, this event seems to strike a unifying tone, bringing together diverse African American leaders and honoring their achievements. While politics remain polarized, gestures like this can help bridge some divides.
Awarding the Medal of Freedom to Ben Carson, a prominent African American conservative, is a notable choice. It will be interesting to see how this is received across the political spectrum.
The chants of ‘four more years’ suggest Trump’s supporters remain enthusiastic, though his critics will likely view this event through a more skeptical lens. Nonetheless, the intent to honor Black leaders comes through.
Trump praising the late Rev. Jesse Jackson as a ‘real hero’ is a bit surprising given their past tensions. But honoring civil rights leaders from different eras shows an attempt at bipartisanship.
You make a good point. Acknowledging the contributions of influential figures, even with past disagreements, can demonstrate a willingness to move beyond partisan divides.
Interesting to see Trump honoring prominent African American figures during Black History Month. While views on his presidency vary, this gesture seems intended to recognize their contributions.
Highlighting achievements across racial and political lines can help bring people together, even if differences remain on other issues.
Indeed, recognition of notable African Americans is an important part of celebrating Black history and culture.
Recognizing Nicki Minaj as an influential African American figure is an interesting selection. Her controversial comments have drawn criticism, so it will be worth watching how this plays out.
It’s good to see the administration highlighting the success and contributions of African Americans, even if some may question the specific choices. Celebrating diversity and achievement is important.