President Donald Trump faced an awkward moment during a White House ceremony honoring three military veterans with the Medal of Honor—the highest U.S. military decoration—for extraordinary heroism in Vietnam and Afghanistan.
Medals Awarded Amid Warm Tributes
Trump presented the medal to retired Marine Corps Colonel James Capers Jr., 88, and Army Colonel Nicholas Doker. He also posthumously honored Marine Corps Colonel John G. Ripley, who died in 2008. Speaking at the event, Trump praised the recipients as “exceptional men and great individuals,” thanking them for their service and vowing their legacy would never be forgotten.
A Brief Stumble During the Ceremony
During Doker’s award presentation, Trump encountered a minor but visible difficulty: the medal’s ribbon became tangled and formed a knot as he attempted to fasten it. In contrast, the presentation to Capers proceeded smoothly. Despite the hiccup, the ceremony continued without disruption—and Trump completed the honor using an alternative method.