- Former President Donald Trump announced he will soon award Dr. Ben Carson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, marking Carson's second receipt of the nation's highest civilian honor.
- The surprise announcement was made at the American Cornerstone Institute's Founders' Dinner, an organization Carson founded to promote conservative values.
- This represents the third such award announcement this month from Trump, following honors for Rudy Giuliani and the late activist Charlie Kirk.
Surprise Announcement at Conservative Gathering
Former President Donald Trump revealed Thursday evening that he will soon award Dr. Ben Carson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, catching the former Housing and Urban Development secretary completely by surprise during a dinner hosted by Carson's own organization. The announcement came at the American Cornerstone Institute's Founders' Dinner, where Carson was informed of the honor in real-time before an audience of conservative supporters.
"He had no idea," Trump told attendees, according to people familiar with the matter, emphasizing the unexpected nature of the revelation. The American Cornerstone Institute, which Carson founded after leaving government service, focuses on promoting what it describes as foundational American principles: faith, liberty, community, and life.
Unprecedented Second Honor
What makes this award particularly notable is that Carson previously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush in 2008, recognizing his groundbreaking work as a neurosurgeon. That honor came after Carson gained national prominence for leading the first successful separation of conjoined twins joined at the back of the head—a medical milestone that cemented his reputation as a pioneering surgeon.
The decision to award the medal to the same individual twice is highly unusual in the award's history, potentially reigniting debates about the proper use of the nation's highest civilian honor. A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that planning for the ceremony is underway but declined to provide a specific date.
Political Dimensions and Timing
The announcement continues a pattern of Trump using the Presidential Medal of Freedom to reward political allies since returning to office. Earlier this month, Trump revealed he would award the medal to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and posthumously to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, making Carson the third such honoree announced in recent weeks.
The relationship between Trump and Carson has evolved significantly since their days as rivals in the 2016 Republican presidential primary. Carson later served as Trump's HUD secretary from 2017 to 2021 and was recently considered as a potential running mate for Trump's 2024 campaign. More recently, Carson served as Trump's national faith chairman, deepening their political partnership.
Efforts to reach Carson for additional comment through the American Cornerstone Institute were unsuccessful Thursday evening. The organization's representatives did not immediately respond to inquiries about how the award might affect Carson's ongoing work promoting conservative policies and values.
Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled the name of the American Cornerstone Institute. It has been corrected throughout.