U.S. President Donald Trump ties a knot, as he awards retired U.S. Army Major Nicholas Dockery the Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 18, 2026. REUTERS/Eric Lee
President Donald Trump failed to clasp the Medal of Honor around a decorated veteran, and critics let him have it.
Major Nicholas Dockery received the Medal of Honor, the country's highest military decoration, on Thursday for his heroic actions in Afghanistan. Trump, however, had a problem putting the medal around Dockery during the ceremony.
Video from the ceremony showed Trump struggling to clasp the medal before tying it tightly around Dockery's neck.
Former GOP strategist Tara Setmayer wrote in a post on X, "Imagine if Biden...never mind...."
"Trump spectacularly failed his latest cognitive test," joked journalist Aaron Rupar.
"This really isn’t a difficult physical task to perform," noted Ron Filipkowski, editor-in-chief of MeidasTouch, in a post on X.
"The Medal of Honor doesn't STRETCH," wrote crypto commentator Josh Mandell.
"Why didn't he have this problem with Rush Limbaugh?" social media influencer Morgan J. Freeman joked, referring to the conservative radio personality whom Trump awarded the Medal of Freedom.