Latest news with #PresidentialMedalOfFreedom
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
White House Wants Big Balls to Get Same Medal as Rosa Parks
An ex-DOGE staffer known as 'Big Balls' could end up receiving the highest civilian honor in the United States, placing him in the company of luminaries such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa. Two weeks after 19-year-old Edward Coristine was viciously assaulted during a carjacking in Washington D.C., the White House says it would consider giving the administration official a Presidential Medal of Freedom for his bravery. The issue was raised during a White House briefing in which press secretary Karoline Leavitt invited MAGA pundit Benny Johnson to ask the first question, as has become customary under the new administration. After talking about his own personal experience with violence in D.C., thanking Leavitt for Trump's actions and slamming Democrats, Johnson asked if the president would consider Coristine—better known by his online nickname 'Big Balls'—for a Presidential Medal of Freedom in view of his 'heroic actions just a few blocks from this building.' 'Perhaps it's something he would consider,' Leavitt replied. Coristine, who helped Elon Musk earlier this year to slash the federal government and now works with the Social Security Administration, was left bloodied after he was approached by teenagers at around 3 a.m. in Dupont Circle, a lively neighborhood in northwest Washington. A 15-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy were subsequently arrested and remain in juvenile jail as the investigation continues. But the ex-DOGE staffer was elevated to hero status in MAGA world after the president posted a gruesome photo from the crime scene on his Truth Social account, before threatening a federal takeover of D.C. to lower the crime rate. Last week, Republican Senator Mike Lee even posted a creepy AI-generated clip of Trump placing the Medal of Freedom around Coristine's neck. Trump's threats became reality on Monday, when he announced he would bring in the National Guard and federalize the D.C. metropolitan police to restore law and order—despite the crime rate being at a 30-year low and falling across all categories. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Leavitt said that about 850 officers and agents had been surged across the district. However, she also revealed that despite the unprecedented presence, only 23 arrests were made—including for low level crimes such as fare evasion and traffic infringements. 'Last night, these arrests consisted of homicide, firearms offenses, possession with intent to distribute narcotics, fare evasion, lewd acts, stalking, possession of a high capacity magazine, fleeing to allude a vehicle, no permits, driving under the influence, reckless driving, and a bench warrant,' she said. Critics seized on the numbers to claim that the president's claims of Washington D.C. as a hotbed of 'crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor' were grossly exaggerated. 'With 850 agents making 23 arrests, that's a 37-1 ratio of force results,' wrote one X user going by the handle White House X Ray. 'This isn't a law enforcement surge—it's political theatre with a federal budget.' The White House, however, has hit back, while Trump's supporters say that Coristine is emblematic of D.C.'s crime problem. Giving him a Presidential Medal of Freedom would appease Trump's base and place the 19-year-old in the company of recipients who have made 'an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.' Over the years, this has included presidents such as Jimmy Carter and Lyndon B Johnson. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The move would appeal to Trump's MAGA base.
An ex-DOGE staffer known as 'Big Balls' could end up receiving the highest civilian honor in the United States, placing him in the company of luminaries such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa. Two weeks after 19-year-old Edward Coristine was viciously assaulted during a carjacking in Washington D.C., the White House says it would consider giving the administration official a Presidential Medal of Freedom for his bravery. The issue was raised during a White House briefing in which press secretary Karoline Leavitt invited MAGA pundit Benny Johnson to ask the first question, as has become customary under the new administration.
The Independent
12-08-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
MAGA commentator pleads for Trump to give ‘Big Balls' the Medal of Freedom after DC assault
MAGA commentator Benny Johnson has drawn ridicule online after suggesting that former DOGE employee 'Big Balls' be given the Presidential Medal of Freedom, after the teenager was violently assaulted in Washington, D.C. Johnson, who has contributed to several conservative and right-wing media outlets such as Breitbart News, even described the actions of Edward Coristine as 'heroic.' The 19-year-old was left bloodied last weekend in an apparent attempted carjacking. Donald Trump later shared a photo of Coristine on Truth Social Tuesday, claiming crime was 'out of control' in D.C. 'Given the heroic actions of a member of the administration just blocks from this building, will the president consider giving the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 'Big Balls'?' Johnson asked at a White House press conference Tuesday. Laughing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt replied: 'I haven't spoken to him about that, but perhaps it's something he would consider.' The Presidential Medal of Freedom is considered the U.S. government's highest civilian honor, and is typically presented to individuals in recognition of a lifetime of significant achievements in the arts, public service, science, or other fields. Clips of Johnson's question prompted consternation and outrage online, with one user commenting simply: 'What a joke.' 'We live in the most unserious timeline,' added another, with another user questioning: 'Is this real life?' Others laid into Johnson as a 'mouthpiece' for Trump and the administration, questioning his journalistic integrity. '@bennyjohnson had the privilege to ask a question and this is the question he asked,' wrote one user. 'why should we take these people seriously. I feel bad and embarrassed for the journalists in that room.' Others reacted with joy, including Bo Loudon, a MAGA Gen-Z influencer and purported 'best friend' of Barron Trump, who reposted an AI-generated meme of Trump presenting Coristine with the Medal of Freedom – that was created before the teenager 's assault. 'This meme just may become a reality. God bless President Trump and 'Big Balls!'' Loudon wrote. Coristine was with an unnamed woman in downtown D.C. at 3 am on Sunday August 3 when a group of juveniles approached their car, according to the police report of the incident. When they refused to hand over the vehicle the 19-year-old was assaulted. During the attack, an MPD cruiser pulled up, prompting the attackers to flee. Two 15-year-olds, a male and a female, were arrested and subsequently charged with unarmed carjacking. News of the attack prompted outrage from Trump, who posted a lengthy rant about the state of law and order in the U.S. Capitol, though he did not name Coristine in the post. The president on Monday announced a federal takeover of the D.C. Metropolitan Police, in response to what he called 'bedlam.' Coristine received much media attention over his unusual nickname, which reportedly caught the eye of Elon Musk on LinkedIn, who subsequently hired him to work at DOGE.
BreakingNews.ie
09-07-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Hillary Clinton to receive prestigious award in Dublin
Hillary Rodham Clinton is set to be honoured with the Sutherland Leadership Award at the 2025 Business & Finance Awards in Dublin. The event will take place at the Convention Centre in Dublin on Thursday, December 11th. Advertisement The former US secretary of state was the Democratic candidate in the 2016 US election, won by Donald Trump. The Sutherland Leadership Award "celebrates outstanding international figures whose work reflects the legacy of Peter Sutherland in ethical leadership, global cooperation and public service". Ms Clinton joins a list of past winners that includes Ursula von der Leyen, Christine Lagarde, Mario Draghi, and Nancy Pelosi. Ms Clinton received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January 2025 – the United States' highest civilian honour – in recognition of her lifelong commitment to democracy, equality and global progress. Advertisement The former first lady served as secretary of state for the duration of the first Obama administration and for part of his second term. Ian Hyland, president and publisher of Business & Finance, said: "Secretary Clinton has long exemplified the values of ethical leadership, diplomacy and public service that Peter Sutherland stood for. Her commitment to advancing peace, equality and global cooperation continues to inspire people around the world. It is a privilege to honour Secretary Clinton with the Sutherland Leadership Award in recognition of her truly remarkable achievements and ongoing leadership, so necessary today." Ms Clinton also continues to champion education and peacebuilding through her role as chancellor of Queen's University Belfast – a post she assumed in 2020 in recognition of her decades-long commitment to the Northern Ireland peace process. Former US president Barack Obama has also announced a visit to Ireland, where he is set to be interviewed by journalist Fintan O'Toole at the 3Arena on Friday, September 26th. Tickets go on sale on Ticketmaster go on sale on Thursday, July 10th.
New York Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The ‘First Celebrity Athlete,' a Century Before Social Media
Before Deion Sanders or Bo Jackson, there was Jim Thorpe. More than a century ago, Thorpe was a multisport star, excelling in football, baseball and lacrosse, and winning gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon at the 1912 Stockholm Games. But as a Native American, he faced what many historians considered racial bias when those medals were stripped because he had previously earned modest payment for playing baseball, which the International Olympic Committee said violated amateurism rules. The I.O.C. agreed to return Thorpe's medals in 1982, almost 30 years after his death, and last year President Joseph R. Biden Jr. awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was accepted by Thorpe's granddaughter. On Monday, a new project by the History Channel, 'Jim Thorpe: Lit by Lightning,' explores the triumphs and injustices of Thorpe's athletic career. The two-hour documentary was directed by Chris Eyre, a Native American filmmaker, and produced by Uninterrupted, a media company co-founded by LeBron James. In an interview with The New York Times, Eyre discussed the creative process and how he sees Thorpe's legacy playing out today. Excerpts from the conversation have been edited for length and clarity. Why was now a good time to do this project? I had heard about Jim Thorpe ever since I was a kid, and I felt like his name — I didn't want it to fade from the consciousness because he's one of the greatest Americans that ever lived and he's the greatest athlete ever. I jumped at getting to make something. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
