This is well deserved for Dr. Ben Carson.
On Wednesday, President Trump announced a huge surprise for Dr. Ben Carson.
Trump, during a Black History Month event, shared he would be awarding Dr. Casron with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the near future.
Fox News provided more on Trump’s decision to give Carson the 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 a White House event marking the 100th anniversary of Black History Month as attendees at one point broke into chants of “four more years.”
“Ben’s getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” Trump said. “It’s the highest award you can have outside of the Congressional Medal of Honor.”
Trump said Carson would receive the nation’s top civilian honor at a future ceremony, telling him, “Ben, I’ll be seeing you back here pretty soon. I think you’re going to get the award.”
The announcement came as Trump mixed tributes and cultural references with policy and political claims, including criminal justice reform, crime reduction and border enforcement while hosting “many exceptional African American leaders and patriots” at the White House.
Trump opened the event by noting, “We celebrate the 100th anniversary of Black History Month.”
He then addressed the death of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, saying, “I wanted to begin by expressing a sadness that the passing of a person who was. I knew very well Jesse was a piece of work. He was a piece of work. But he was a good man.
“I just want to pay my highest respects to Reverend Jesse Jackson,” Trump added, calling him “a real hero” and saying “he really was special, with lots of personality, grit and street smarts.”
Trump introduced HUD Secretary Scott Turner and brought Carson to the front of the room, noting Carson had recommended Turner. Carson praised Turner’s role in opportunity zones, saying, “He was really the driving force behind the opportunity zones” and described Trump’s approach as “public private partnerships and had everybody with skin in the game.”
Watch the moment Trump made the announcement here:
President Trump STUNS crowd at the Black History Month event at the White House by announcing that Dr. Ben Carson will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
— Overton (@overton_news) February 18, 2026
The crowd loved it.
TRUMP: “Ben’s getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”
[Crowd cheers]
“That’s the highest… pic.twitter.com/bFljMWsgD1
When Carson took the stage, he noted that President Trump has a lot of energy:
🔥🚨 BREAKING: Dr. Ben Carson says that President Trump has an incredible amount of energy!
— The Patriot Oasis™ (@ThePatriotOasis) February 18, 2026
CARSON: "I'm an old man now, I'll be 75 on my next birthday!"
"I'm NOT like President Trump, he just goes FOREVER! No one else is like that!" pic.twitter.com/YqhKlkTWP6
Although he has been quieter in this administration than in 2016, when he was the HUD Secretary, Dr. Ben Carson still plays an important role in this Trump administration.
In September, Carson was nominated to serve as the National Advisor for Nutrition, Health, and Housing at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
USDA provided more insight into Carson’s role:
Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced that Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr., M.D., was sworn in as the National Advisor for Nutrition, Health, and Housing at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“There is no one more qualified than Dr. Carson to advise on policies that improve Americans’ everyday quality of life, from nutrition to healthcare quality to ensuring families have access to safe and stable housing,” said Secretary Rollins.
“With six in ten Americans living with at least one chronic disease, and rural communities facing unique challenges with respect to adequate housing, Dr. Carson’s insight and experience is critical. Dr. Carson will be crucial to implementing the rural health investment provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill and advise on America First polices related to nutrition, health, and housing. As the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the first Trump Administration, Dr. Carson worked to expand opportunity and strengthen communities, and we are honored to welcome him to the second Trump Administration to help lead our efforts here at USDA to Make America Healthy Again and ensure rural America continues to prosper.”
“Today, too many Americans are suffering from the effects of poor nutrition. Through common-sense policymaking, we have an opportunity to give our most vulnerable families the tools they need to flourish,” said Dr. Ben Carson. “I am honored to work with Secretary Rollins on these important initiatives to help fulfill President Trump’s vision for a healthier, stronger America.”
