MaddowBlog-Trump received a Nobel Peace Prize the same way he received a Purple Heart

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Last edited Sat Jan 17, 2026, 12:37 PM - Edit history (1)

The president seems to prefer a model where others do the heavily lifting and then generously turn over their honors.

Trump received a Nobel Peace Prize the same way he received a Purple Heart:

He wants the honors without the sacrifice. He prefers a model in which others do the work and then generously turn over their awards to him, because, as he put it, it’s “much easier.” www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-01-16T16:59:30.116Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-received-a-nobel-peace-prize-the-same-way-he-received-a-purple-heart

That reminded me of a story from almost a decade ago. Politico published this report in August 2016:

Without setting foot on a battlefield, Donald Trump said he received a Purple Heart medal on Tuesday at his rally in Ashburn, Virginia, from a retired lieutenant colonel and supporter.

‘I said to him, “Is that like the real one, or is that a copy?”’ the Republican nominee said moments after taking the stage at a local high school. Trump recounted the exchange, remarking that the man, who he identified as retired Lt. Col. Louis Dorfman said, ‘That’s my real Purple Heart. I have such confidence in you.’

“I always wanted to get the Purple Heart,” the then-candidate declared. “This was much easier.”

Purple Hearts are awarded to service members or their families after they’re wounded or killed in the course of their military service. Due to alleged “bone spurs” in his feet, Trump avoided military service, but by his own admission, he “always wanted to get the Purple Heart” anyway.

Having someone who actually served in the military hand him the honor was “much easier” for Trump than actually wearing the uniform and putting his life on the line.

With Machado, the story is similar: Trump wants the accolades without the sacrifice. He apparently prefers a model in which others do the heavily lifting and then generously turn over their honors to him, without him having to do anything to merit the award he covets.

But while the president will likely celebrate the Nobel Peace Prize that ended up in his possession, he’ll know — we all know — that there’s a dramatic difference between a gift and earned honors.

[RockRaven]

1. He received it the same way Joseph Goebbels did a Nobel Prize for Literature

Knut Hamsun, a Norwegian writer, pulled the same stunt with Goebbels that Machado just did with Trump, and for the same reason -- to ingratiate oneself and get an audience with the fascist leadership.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knut_Hamsun

In 1943, he sent Germany's minister of propaganda Joseph Goebbels his Nobel Prize medal as a gift.[36] Hamsun's biographer Thorkild Hansen interpreted this as part of the strategy to get an audience with Hitler.[40]

[Ocelot II]

2. So if Anthony Hopkins were to give Trump the Oscar statue he won

for his performance in The Silence of the Lambs, would that mean Trump won the Academy Award for Best Actor? If Cal Ripken had given him his MVP plaque, would Trump become MLB's most valuable player for 1983 and 1991?

[Historic NY]

3. I hope the next one is posthumus

[Kid Berwyn]

4. It's called being a "shitheel."

Trump was born for it.

[Dave Bowman]

5. The only awards he ever legitimately won are 3 Razzies.

"Trump was first recognized by the Razzies for his performance in the 1990 flop Ghosts Can't Do It. Trump appeared as himself in the romantic comedy and was nominated for Worst New Star and Worst Supporting Actor, winning the latter."

https://www.newsweek.com/how-many-razzies-has-donald-trump-won-golden-raspberry-awards-1776768

[WestMichRad]

6. I think it appropriate that he was gifted the Nobel medal.

He is always claiming that he won when in fact he came in second (or cheated to win). So it’s another example of his vanity and phoniness.

And of course in this case, he didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize, he only received a shiny bauble and a certificate stating someone else won. (Which he’ll no doubt have reprinted to erroneously state that he was the awardee.)

[Skittles]

7. a war hero, rewarding a five time draft-dodging COWARD

fucking DISGUSTING

[ananda]

8. He's a spoiled, demented toddler in a sandbox...

who just likes taking things away from people
so he can look bigger and better...

while his billiionaire enablers pay to sit on the side
and clap.

[2naSalit]

9. It just makes me...

Despise him more and question her leadership.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. This made me smile

[LetMyPeopleVote]

11. trump has a great deal in common with Goebbels

Link to tweet