Trump announces Ben Carson to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

president Donald Trump Announced that former Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom during his term The white house The event marked the centennial of Black History Month, with attendees at one point chanting “four more years.”

“Ben will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Trump said. “It is the highest award you can receive outside of the Congressional Medal of Honor.”

Trump said Carson would receive the nation’s highest civilian honor at a future ceremony, telling him: “Ben, I’ll see you back here very soon. I think you’ll get the award.”

The announcement came as Trump mixed tributes, cultural references, and political and policy claims including criminal justice reform, crime reduction and border enforcement while hosting what he described as “many exceptional African American leaders and patriots” at the White House.

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Trump opened the event by noting: “We’re celebrating the 100th anniversary of Black History Month.”

He then addressed the death of Reverend Jesse Jackson, saying, “I wanted to begin by expressing sadness at the death of someone who was. I knew very well that Jesse was a piece of work. He was a piece of work. But he was a good man.”

Trump added: “I just want to extend my highest respect to Reverend Jesse Jackson,” describing him as “a true hero,” saying, “He was truly special, and had a lot of character, determination, and street smarts.”

Trump introduced HUD Secretary Scott Turner and brought Carson to the front of the room, noting that Carson had recommended Turner. Carson praised Turner’s role in Opportunity Zones, saying, “He was really… The driving force behind Opportunity ZonesHe described Trump’s approach as “public-private partnerships, and everyone was in the game.”

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US President Donald Trump speaks alongside former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and current Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner during a Black History Month event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 18, 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Moments later, Trump returned to Carson and spoke in detail about the award.

“It’s better, because a lot of people, you know, get the Congressional Medal of Honor, and they’re not there,” Trump said. “But it is the highest award [for] civilian.”

After Leo Terrell’s statements, Trump thanked him, saying: “Leo, that was very good,” the gathered crowd exploded chanting, “Four more years.”

Later, while listing black artists and athletes, Trump singled out rappers Nicki Minaj.

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US President Donald Trump speaks during a Black History Month event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 18, 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

“I love Nicki Minaj. She’s been here for two weeks.”

He added before saying: “So beautiful, and she got it. And most importantly, she got it.”

Trump linked Wednesday’s celebration to a broader national moment, saying, “Black History Month is about American history,” and pointed to upcoming America250 programming.

The President identified a series of Policy achievements For the black community, saying he “single-handedly secured record long-term funding” for historically black colleges and universities, he reiterated, “We have accomplished criminal justice reform,” adding, “No one thought it could be done.”

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US President Donald Trump greets Alice Marie Johnson, the “White House Pardon Czar,” during a Black History Month event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on February 18, 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump linked these policies to electoral performance, saying: “It is not surprising that in 2024 we won more African American votes than any Republican president in history.”

Trump also cited economic indicators, saying: “Earlier this month the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose above 50,000 for the first time ever,” adding that “the Standard & Poor’s index broke the 7,000 level.”

“The number of Americans working today is greater than at any time in American history,” he said, before saying: “Since I took office, African American labor “Increased by 182,000.”

The president also promoted a tax proposal, inviting a small business owner from Arkansas to speak. “Not having a tip tax has been an amazing blessing for me,” she told the audience.

Trump later turned to fighting crime and border enforcement, saying “we need order,” and claiming that “Washington, D.C., is amazing. It’s been a crime capital. It was a horror show a year ago. And it was really dangerous. And now it’s one of the safest cities anywhere in the country.”

“We have the lowest number of murders in 125 years, since 1990,” he said, adding, “Just one year ago, we had the worst borders ever, and now we have the safest borders ever.”

He also said he “deployed the National Guard to restore safety to Memphis, New Orleans and Washington,” calling the Guard “incredible.”

He also gave the floor to Alice Johnson, whom he described as the White House’s “pardon czar,” as she recounted her case: “We got her out. We commuted the sentence… I said, full pardon.”

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Johnson credited Trump with the First Step Act, saying, “President Trump did something historic in his first term. He signed the First Step Act into law,” adding, “We have over 40,000 individuals returned to their families early.”

Trump concluded his speech by calling the gathering a “very special group of people” and said: “A very happy Black History Month, a Happy Black History Year, and a Happy Black History Century.”