Trump Salutes American Heroes With Nation’s Highest Honors

President Donald Trump presented six of the nation’s highest honors during his State of the Union address on Tuesday, recognizing acts of military heroism and athletic excellence. 

Trump gave the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award, to Army Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover, a helicopter pilot wounded during the successful raid that captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Slover was struck four times by enemy fire while preparing to land his Chinook helicopter at Maduro’s compound. 

“Eric steered the Chinook under the cover of night and descended swiftly upon Maduro’s heavily protected military fortress. This was a major military installation protected by thousands of soldiers,” Trump said. “While preparing to land, enemy machine guns fired from every angle. And Eric was hit very badly in the leg and hip, one bullet after another. He absorbed four agonizing shots, shredding his leg into numerous pieces.”

Trump also awarded the Medal of Honor to 100-year-old naval aviator Royce Williams, who fought in World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam, flying more than 200 combat missions. 

“In 1952, Royce was in the dogfight of a lifetime,” Trump said of an encounter during the Korean War. “Flying through blizzard conditions, his squadron was ambushed by seven Soviet fighter planes. It was his first aerial combat of the war, and despite being massively outnumbered and outgunned, Royce led the takedown of four enemy jets and almost destroyed the others, vanquishing his adversaries while taking 263 bullets to his own plane and being seriously hurt. His story was secret for over 50 years. He didn’t even want to tell his wife, but the legend grew and grew.”

Credit: Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images.

Trump awarded the Purple Heart to Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, a National Guardsman who was seriously wounded in a shooting attack in Washington, D.C., before Thanksgiving. He also presented a Purple Heart to the family of Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a National Guard soldier who was killed in the same attack. 

“With God’s help, Andrew has battled back from the edge of death,” Trump said. “He’s got a little work to do, but he’s doing great.”

The man suspected of attacking them was an Afghan national who was let into the country after former President Joe Biden withdrew American forces from Afghanistan. 

Credit: Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images.

Scott Ruskan, a U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer who saved 165 people during deadly flooding in Texas in July 2025, was awarded the Legion of Merit, a military decoration recognizing outstanding service. 

“It was Scott’s first ever rescue mission,” Trump said. “People watched Scott from a distance, and they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.”

Photo by Kenny Holston-Pool/Getty Images.

Trump also announced that he will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the top honor for a civilian, to Connor Hellebuyck, the goalie for the Olympic gold-medal-winning U.S. men’s hockey team. During the team’s 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in the final, Hellebuyck recorded 41 saves, including a crucial third-period stop that preserved the victory. 

Credit: Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP via Getty Images.

“I’ve never seen a goaltender play as well as goalie Connor Hellebuyck,” Trump said. “I will soon be presenting Connor with our highest civilian honor.”

Trump said only around 12 other athletes have been given the Medal of Freedom in the past.