President Trump honors 100 Purple Heart recipients at special White House ceremony

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WASHINGTON − President Donald Trump hosted nearly 100 Purple Heart recipients at the White House in recognition of veterans wounded in military action ‒ including some who last year gifted their badges to Trump after he survived an assassination attempt.

The ceremony held in the White House East Room coincided with his signing a proclamation declaring Aug. 7 National Purple Heart Day, which commemorates America's oldest military decoration, one that originated under President George Washington in 1782 to honor those killed or injured in combat.

Recipients in attendance included three veterans ‒ Thomas Matteo, Gerald Enter Jr. and John Ford ‒ who sent their Purple Heart medals to Trump last year after the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, when Trump's right ear was grazed by a bullet from a would-be assassin.

"Gerald, John and Thomas, I want to thank you very much," Trump said. "What a great honor to get those Purple Hearts. I guess in a certain way, it wasn't that easy for me either, when you think of it, but you went through a lot more than I did. And I appreciate it all very much."

Also honored at the event was Chris LaCivita, Trump's 2024 campaign manager and a veteran of the U.S. Marines Corps who received a Purple Heart in 1991 for his service in the Gulf War.

The ceremony featured a father-son combo, Kevin Willette and Brian Willette, who both received the Purple Heart for their service in Afghanistan.

In addition, military specialist Kevin Jensen, who pulled fellow Purple Heart recipient Capt. Sam Brown from a Humvee in Afghanistan that was hit by an explosive device, was among the guests. Brown last week was confirmed by the Senate as Trump's under secretary for memorial affairs in the Department of Veteran Affairs.

"Every Purple Heart tells a story of courage, sacrifice and purpose," Trump said. "It speaks of a price paid for the soldier beside you, the country behind you and the generations of Americans yet to come. We have some great generations to follow."

Other Purple Heart recipients at the White House included:

• Eli Cuevas, a former squad designated marksman who was wounded in Iraq during his second mission in Iraq
• Senior Master Sgt. Israel Del Toro Jr., a retired Air Force veteran of 22 years and special warfare operator was severely injured in Afghanistan in 2025
• Captain Andrew D. Ashford, a retired Green Beret who enlisted in the U.S. Army after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and was injured in Afghanistan in 2017 during a 14-hour firefight against ISIS-K.
• Major James Capers Jr., a highly decorated veteran of the Marines who earned three Purple Hearts, the Silver Star and two Bronze Stars in the Vietnam War and was the first Black man to command a Marine Recon company.

More than 1.8 million Americans have received the Purple Heart, which was revived in 1932 by Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration marking the 200th anniversary of Washington's birthday.

Honorees are given a heart-shaped decoration with a purple background and gold embroidery that features Washington's profile.

"Those who wear this medal ran into bullets, faced ferocious bombs and shed their blood on the field of battle," Trump said. "We will never forget what they did. We will always use them as an example of bravery and courage and strength."

Trump, who is not a veteran, received five deferments from the draft for military service during the Vietnam War. He received four education deferments while he was a college student and a fifth deferment in 1968 for a medical exemption because of bone spurs in his heels.

Trump administration officials who attended the ceremony include Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan “Razin” Caine.

Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.

(This story has been updated with more information.)