Kamala Harris campaign, war veterans slam Trump's 'asinine comments' on Medal of Honor

Former United StatesPresident Donald Trump has come under fire for claiming that the Presidential Medal of Freedom is "much better" than the highest US military decoration Medal of Honor.

Al Lipphardt, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), slammed former president Trump for "asinine" comments regarding the Medal of Honor award.

What did Donald Trump say?

At a New Jersey campaign event on Thursday (Aug 15), Trump ignited controversy by claiming the Presidential Medal of Freedom is a "better" award than the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration in the US Armed Forces.

The Medal of Honor is given to service members who show "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty."

In contrast, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is given to civilians for "exceptional contributions to the security or national interests of America, to world peace, or cultural or other significant public or private endeavours."

Trump compared the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Medal of Honor, stating, "It's the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor. But the civilian version, it's actually much better because everyone that gets the Congressional Medal of Honor, they're soldiers."

VFW, Kamala Harris' campaign hit at Trump

VFW National Commander Al Lipphardt condemned Trump's remarks on Friday (Aug 16), which compared the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the Medal of Honor, according to The Hill.

Lipphardt called the former president'scomments as "asinine," stating that they "not only diminish the significance of our nation's highest award for valour but also crassly characterised the sacrifices of those who have risked their lives above and beyond the call of duty."

In a similar vein, Vice President KamalaHarris' campaign voiced strong disapproval. Spokesperson Sarafina Chitika remarked that voters "owe it to our service members" not to choose Trump. She added, "Donald Trump knows nothing about service to anyone or anything but himself."

“For him to insult Medal of Honor recipients, just as he has previously attacked Gold Star families, mocked prisoners of war, and referred to those who lost their lives in service to our country as ‘suckers’ and ‘losers,’ should remind all Americans that we owe it to our service members, our country, and our future to make sure Donald Trump is never our nation’s commander in chief again,” she added.

(With inputs from agencies)