President Donald Trump struggled to fasten a Medal of Honor ribbon during a White House ceremony on June 18, 2024 [1].
The incident has drawn attention to the president's physical dexterity and stamina, occurring shortly after his 80th birthday [2].
Trump presented the nation's highest military honor to Army Major Nicholas Dockery and two veterans of the Vietnam War in the White House East Room [3]. The ceremony was intended to recognize the heroism of the officer, who served in Afghanistan, and the two veterans [4].
During the presentation, Trump spent approximately 50 seconds attempting to fasten the medal [5]. He eventually tied the ribbon around the recipient's neck after the struggle [5]. Following the effort, Trump said, "Now that's not coming off" [6].
Observers noted the difficulty Trump had with the ribbon, which some reports suggest renews scrutiny regarding his health [2]. The event took place in the East Room, where the president honored the recipients for their service and bravery [3].
The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in the U.S. military. The struggle to secure the ribbon lasted nearly a minute before the president successfully fastened the award [5].
“"Now that's not coming off."”
The public nature of the struggle during a high-profile military ceremony provides a visual data point for critics and supporters to debate the president's age-related capabilities. Because the Medal of Honor ceremony is a rigid tradition of prestige, any perceived lack of coordination by the executive is often magnified in political discourse regarding fitness for office.
