Trump says he will award Presidential Medal of Freedom to Ben Carson

"We are going to be presenting Dr. Ben Carson with the highest civilian award and honor in our country," President Trump said

By Natalia Mittelstadt

Published: September 22, 2025 12:23pm

President Trump said he will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to his former Housing and Urban Development secretary, Dr. Ben Carson.

Trump made the announcement regarding the nation’s highest civilian honor on Saturday, The Hill news outlet reported. Carson was the HUD secretary during Trump's first presidential term.

“We are going to be presenting Dr. Ben Carson with the highest civilian award and honor in our country. It’s the civilian version of the Medal of Honor, which is our highest military award. It’s the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Trump said at an event hosted by the American Cornerstone Institute, founded by Carson.

Trump said he plans to have a White House ceremony for Carson.

“Congratulations, Ben,” Trump added. “He didn’t know this. He didn’t know it. I hope he’s happy.”

Carson is a former neurosurgeon who ran against Trump for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016. In the 2024 presidential race, Carson was the national faith chairman for the Trump campaign.

Trump also said earlier this month that he will posthumously award conservative activist Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom after his assassination on Sept. 10, and give the same award to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.