Could ‘Violate the Important Principle of Separating the Military From Politics’ One Ethics Expert Says
President Donald Trump has changed the presidential challenge coin in significant and wholly personal and partisan ways, raising eyebrows and concerns of ethics experts. He literally has replaced the national motto, “E Pluribus Unum,” with his campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.”
The coins are considered mementos and are often given by the Commander-in-Chief to members of the military. They have a long history, and are considered to have historic as well as great personal and market value. But rather than honor the nation’s history, Donald Trump has personally redesigned the coins to honor Donald Trump.
“The presidential seal has been replaced by an eagle bearing President Trump’s signature. The eagle’s head faces right, not left, as on the seal,” The Washington Post reports. But that’s just for starters.
“The 13 arrows representing the original states have disappeared. And the national motto, ‘E pluribus unum’ a Latin phrase that means, ‘Out of many, one’ is gone. Instead, both sides of the coin feature Trump’s official campaign slogan, ‘Make America Great Again.'”
“The changes don’t stop there. In addition to his signature, Trump’s name appears three times on the coin, which is thicker than those made for past presidents. And forget the traditional subdued silver and copper: Trump’s coin, a White House aide marveled, is ‘very gold.'”
In 2011, CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller posted these images of President Obama’s challenge coin:
The Post says White House aides gave different answers when asked who is footing the bill for the coins. The RNC says it is.
And instead of using them primarily as tokens of respect and gratitude meant for members of the military, one White House aide says, “They’re going to be used in ways they haven’t been in the past, including as gifts to donors and supporters at campaign rallies.
But for decades, if not longer, the challenge coins have been given to service members and military officers in prestigious rituals. Here’s how one reporter described the exchange in 2014:
“The custom is as fleeting as it is elusive. In a matter of a split second, the entire exchange is over, and the people who witnessed the covert operation often never even knew it happened. A challenge coin, tucked in the palm of the United States president, is passed to a member of the military in a seemingly ordinary handshake. For photojournalists who cover the president, immortalizing the exchange that takes place during that ‘secret handshake‘ in a still image is something of a white whale. It’s exceedingly rare that clear photos of such a delivery are captured.”
Ethics experts are expressing concern over the Trump changes, especially because the coins feature a partisan campaign message, and the military at all times is supported to not be perceived as agents of a political campaign or candidate.
“For the commander in chief to give a political token with a campaign slogan on it to military officers would violate the important principle of separating the military from politics, as well as diminishing the tradition of the coin,” Trevor Potter, a Republican, and a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission told The Post.
This White House photo shows President Barack Obama laying, “a Presidential challenge coin on a grave in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., May 30, 2011. Section 60 is reserved for military personnel who have lost their lives while fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
It’s hard to imagine President Trump doing this with a MAGA presidential challenge coin. It would be a grotesque act.
On Twitter, many are outraged:
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Image by Arctic Wolves via Flickr and a CC license
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