Trump Honors 100 Purple Heart Recipients at White House Ceremony

President Donald Trump hosted a ceremony in the White House East Room on Thursday to recognize nearly 100 U.S. service members wounded in combat, marking National Purple Heart Day. The 4 p.m. ET event, coinciding with the 243rd anniversary of the medal’s predecessor established by George Washington, brought together veterans from conflicts spanning Vietnam to Afghanistan. Among the honorees were Marine Corps veteran and former campaign manager Chris LaCivita and three veterans—Thomas Matteo, Gerald Enter Jr. and John Ford—who mailed their Purple Hearts to Trump after he survived a July 13, 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. The gathering also highlighted family service, featuring Afghanistan veterans Kevin and Brian Willette, and recognized specialist Kevin Jensen, credited with pulling future Veterans Affairs official Capt. Sam Brown from a burning Humvee. Trump was joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine. In prepared remarks, the president said the nation “will never forget” the sacrifices represented by the heart-shaped medal, more than 1.8 million of which have been awarded since its revival in 1932.