President Commemorates Purple Heart Day While Recalling Personal Experience, Receives Medals from Attendees

At a White House ceremony honoring recipients of the Purple Heart on Thursday, President Donald Trump used the occasion to revisit his experience during an assassination attempt last year and to acknowledge the discomfort he reportedly felt as a result. The event hosted approximately 100 individuals who have been awarded the prestigious medal, recognizing service members injured or killed in combat. During the proceedings, three attendees presented Trump with their own Purple Hearts following the July 2024 shooting at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Addressing the crowd, the president alluded to the minor injuries he sustained during that incident, characterizing them as not being “easy” for him.