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President Donald Trump announced Saturday that Ben Carson will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, calling the former neurosurgeon and Cabinet secretary a close ally and “a happy surprise” honoree.
“Congratulations, Ben. He didn’t know this,” Trump said during remarks at Mount Vernon for the American Cornerstone Institute, which Carson founded. “He didn’t know it. I hope he’s happy.”
Carson, 74, served as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in Trump’s first administration after running against him in the 2016 Republican primary. Once rivals, the two later served as allies. Carson was once viewed as a possible running mate for Trump in the 2024 campaign and later served as national faith chairman during the race.
Carson has long been a popular conservative leader, known for his pro-life views, as well as his work as an author and speaker. Before entering politics, he was a pioneering pediatric neurosurgeon whose life story was featured in the bestselling book Gifted Hands, later released as a featured film.
The Medal of Freedom, created in 1963, is the nation’s highest civilian honor and is given to individuals who have made “especially meritorious contributions” to U.S. security, world peace, or other significant public or cultural achievements.
Trump awarded the medal to 24 people during his first term and has already announced three honorees since returning to the White House. No date has been set for Carson’s ceremony, though Trump said other presentations are forthcoming.
Earlier this month, Trump said he would give the award to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, just days after Giuliani was injured in a car accident. On Sept. 11, at a commemoration at the Pentagon, Trump also announced plans to award a posthumous medal for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated at a Utah campus event earlier this month.
The president also affirmed plans to honor Kirk with the award during remarks at Kirk’s memorial service in Arizona on Sunday.
“It was an assault on our most sacred God-given liberties and God-given rights. The gun was pointed at him but the bullet was aimed at all of us,” Trump said. “The assassin failed in this quest because Charlie’s message has not been silenced, and now is bigger and better and stronger than ever before.”
