President Trump to Award Presidential Medal of Freedom to Ben Carson
President Donald Trump will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Ben Carson, recognizing his meritorious contributions to U.S. security or national interests, marking Trump's third such award this month.
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Overview
- President Donald Trump announced his plan to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Ben Carson, making it the third such honor bestowed by Trump this month.
- Ben Carson, a prominent conservative speaker and author, is also a former neurosurgeon with a distinguished career in medicine.
- Carson previously served as the Housing and Urban Development secretary during President Trump's first administration, contributing to national interests.
- The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded for meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States.
- This prestigious award acknowledges Carson's significant impact and service, as recognized by President Trump's administration.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the story neutrally, focusing on the factual announcement of Ben Carson receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom. They provide essential background on Carson's political career and relationship with Trump, along with details about the award itself and other recent recipients, without employing loaded language or presenting a biased narrative.
"President Donald Trump said Saturday that he will award Ben Carson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, the third such award he's announced this month."
ABC NewsArticles (3)
FAQ
As HUD Secretary, Ben Carson led initiatives such as establishing the White House Council on Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing, developed electronic portals for tribal housing data, expanded HUD-VASH vouchers for homeless veterans, allocated over $2.45 billion to help end homelessness, initiated housing inspection pilots, provided funds to address lead-based paint hazards, and negotiated a major disability compliance settlement in Los Angeles to produce over 4,600 accessible homes.
Critics described HUD under Ben Carson as 'directionless' with many top positions unfilled and leadership perceived as 'inconspicuous and inscrutable.' Fair housing enforcement was scaled back, investigations halted, and removal of language promoting inclusivity caused concerns. Carson was also criticized for lacking housing policy expertise, proposing significant budget cuts to HUD programs, and showing limited effort to learn the job's basics.
Investigations revealed that Ben Carson's son and daughter-in-law appeared to have exercised unusual influence at HUD, connecting business associates with senior HUD officials and attending meetings arranged by senior employees. These actions raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest within the department during Carson's leadership.
Before his political career, Ben Carson was a pioneering neurosurgeon who performed groundbreaking surgeries, including the first successful separation of conjoined twins joined at the head. He received numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom previously, for his medical achievements and leadership, and co-founded the Carson Scholars Fund recognizing academic and humanitarian accomplishments.
History
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