Donald Trump is expected to award the Medal of Freedom to two of his staunchest allies on Capitol Hill before he leaves the White House.
According to The Washington Post, Trump will award California Congressman Devin Nunes and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan with the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom.
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The Medal of Freedom is usually awarded to individuals who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
But, in 2018 during an interview on ‘Fox & Friends‘ Trump said then chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Nunes deserved the honor for his handling of the Russia probe.
“If this turns out as everyone thinks it will, Devin Nunes should get the Medal of Honor,” he said. “What he’s gone through, and his bravery, he should get a very important medal.”
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Realizing that the Medal of Honor is awarded for military valor, Trump corrected himself, “Maybe we’ll call it the Medal of Freedom because we actually give them, the high awards for civilians.”
Several members of Congress have received the medal in the past, dating back to the Kennedy administration, according to USA Today. President Obama awarded it to retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md in 2015.
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But, Nunes’ and Jordan’s only qualification is that they remain loyal to Trump and fiercely defended him to the end. It continues the pattern of Trump, in the waning days of his presidency rewarding friends and allies who remained loyal with pardons or in this case one the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Nunes will receive the award on Monday and Jordan will receive his next week.
