Trump Honors Purple Heart Recipients at White House

On National Purple Heart Day, President Donald Trump hosted a White House ceremony honoring nearly 100 recipients of the Purple Heart, the nation's oldest military decoration for those wounded or killed in action. The ceremony honored veterans including Chris LaCivita, Jesse Grapes, and John Gallina, co-founder of Purple Heart Homes. Notably, three men who had sent their Purple Heart medals to Trump after he was wounded in a 2024 assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania campaign rally were present, and Trump returned the medals to them during the event. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, and Gen. Dan Caine attended the ceremony, highlighting its significance. Community ceremonies, such as the Madison VA Hospital’s Purple Heart Hall of Honor induction, also recognized wounded veterans. Since its inception in 1782, over 1.8 million Americans have received the Purple Heart.