Trump awards Presidential Medal of Freedom to 9/11 first responder who died in attacks

President Donald Trump on Tuesday posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Welles Crowther, a 9/11 first responder who died in the attacks. Crowther's family received the award on his behalf.

He also addressed gathered 9/11 first responders and military personnel on the White House Ellipse.

"These are the men and women who lifted our country from the rubble," he said. "We're deeply honored to be joined by 150 first responders from New York" and dozens more from Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania. He also acknowledged the roughly 200 military personnel in attendance.

Participants in the event also presented Trump with steel from one of the World Trade Center towers destroyed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

During the event, Trump announced that the U.S. Coast Guard would soon commission a new cutter vessel named after Jeffrey Palazzo, a firefighter who died on 9/11.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.