Former President Donald Trump has strongly criticized President Joe Biden's decision to award the Presidential Citizens Medal to former Representative Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Representative Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). In a post on his social media platform, Trump referred to the accolades as “fake medals” and accused both lawmakers of compromising the January 6th investigation by “destroying and deleting all evidence” relevant to the Capitol riot.

The medals were conferred during a White House ceremony where Cheney was recognized for her contributions to Congress and her role as vice chair of the committee investigating the January 6 assault, while Thompson was acknowledged for his leadership as the committee chair. Trump stated that Biden's recognition of Cheney was misguided, emphasizing that she had become “totally corrupt” and characterizing her as a “warmonger of low intelligence.” He added, “Biden rewarded her only because she hated ‘TRUMP,’” following her significant electoral defeat.

Trump further lambasted Cheney and Thompson, calling them “thugs,” and blamed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for security failures on January 6, which he insists contributed to the chaos. He claimed, “Nancy Pelosi refused to accept the help which was offered for security. She is responsible...Those dishonest Thugs have gotten away with horrible things under the pretense of January 6th.” This rhetoric aligns with Trump's ongoing narrative that absolves him of accountability and places the blame squarely on Democrats.

Despite the backlash from Trump, during the award ceremony, Cheney received a standing ovation in recognition of her service. Trump’s comments echoed earlier remarks made by Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), who stated that Cheney exemplifies “partisanship and divisiveness—not Wyoming.”

In a broader context, the Presidential Citizens Medal is regarded as the second-highest civilian award in the United States, designed to honor individuals who demonstrate exceptional service to their community or country. Biden's award ceremony also included recognition for figures championing marriage equality and others contributing significantly to society. In contrast, Trump, during his presidency, presented the medal to individuals such as Colonel Richard Rescorla, a war hero, illustrating his own distinct choices in recognizing service to the nation.

For more details, you can read the full articles on The Hill and India Times.