“Tremendous, Tremendous Job”
Donald Trump visited the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Saturday to congratulate Sgt. 1st Class Alvaro Barrientos as he awarded him the Purple Heart.
The Purple Heart is awarded to U.S. service members who are wounded or killed in action while serving their country.
“So I heard about this, I wanted to do this myself,†Trump said as he presented the wounded soldier with the award. According to the Associated Press, Barrientos was wounded in Afghanistan in March, resulting in the amputation of his right leg below the knee.
“Congratulations on behalf of Melania and myself and the entire nation,†the president said to Barrientos, his wife Tammy and Melania Trump before posing for photographs. “Tremendous, tremendous job. Congratulations.”
Trump previously boasted on the campaign trail that a veteran and supporter of his had given him his Purple Heart. “I always wanted to get the Purple Heart,†then candidate Trump said. “This was much easier.†The full video can be seen below:
Trump’s remarks drew criticism from Purple Heart recipients across the nation.
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