At the State of the Union Tuesday night, President Donald Trump awarded famed conservative talk radio figure Rush Limbaugh the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom for his service to America and for his work with charities.
“Almost every American family knows the pain when a loved one is diagnosed with a serious illness,” Trump said. “Here tonight is a special man, someone beloved by millions of Americans who just received a Stage 4 advanced cancer diagnosis.”
“This is not good news, but what is good news is that he is the greatest fighter and winner that you will ever meet,” Trump continued. “Rush Limbaugh, Thank you for your decades of tireless devotion to our country. Rush, in recognition of all that you have done for our Nation, the millions of people a day that you speak to and inspire, and all of the incredible work that you have done for charity, I am proud to announce tonight that you will be receiving our country’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”
“I will now ask the First Lady of the United States to please stand and present you with the honor,” Trump added. “Rush, Kathryn, congratulations!”
WATCH:
Rush Limbaugh has advanced lung cancer.
A bad, bad diagnosis.
Trump brought Rush to the State of the Union.
Rush was honored & given multiple standing O’s.
Melania give him the Medal of Freedom ON THE SPOT.
No other Republican would have the balls to do this.
Why I support Trump: pic.twitter.com/lpKT5SI7nJ— Benny (@bennyjohnson) February 5, 2020
“As we pray for all who are sick, we know that America is constantly achieving new medical breakthroughs. In 2017, doctors at St. Luke’s hospital in Kansas City delivered one of the earliest premature babies ever to survive,” Trump continued. “Born at just 21 weeks and 6 days, and weighing less than a pound, Ellie Schneider was born a fighter. Through the skill of her doctors — and the prayers of her parents — little Ellie kept on winning the battle for life. Today, Ellie is a strong, healthy 2-year-old girl sitting with her amazing mother Robin in the gallery. Ellie and Robin: We are so glad you are here.”
“Ellie reminds us that every child is a miracle of life,” Trump continued. “Thanks to modern medical wonders, 50 percent of very premature babies delivered at the hospital where Ellie was born now survive. Our goal should be to ensure that every baby has the best chance to thrive and grow just like Ellie. That is why I am asking the Congress to provide an additional $50 million to fund neo-natal research for America’s youngest patients. That is also why I am calling upon the Members of Congress here tonight to pass legislation finally banning the late-term abortion of babies.”
“Whether we are Republican, Democrat, or Independent, surely we must all agree that every human life is a sacred gift from God!” Trump continued. “As we support America’s moms and dads, I was recently proud to sign the law providing new parents in the Federal workforce paid family leave, serving as a model for the rest of the country. Now, I call on the Congress to pass the bipartisan Advancing Support for Working Families Act, extending family leave to mothers and fathers all across the Nation.”
Trump concluded, “Forty million American families have an average $2,200 extra thanks to our child tax credit. I have also overseen historic funding increases for high-quality child care, enabling 17 States to serve more children, many of which have reduced or eliminated their waitlists altogether. And I sent the Congress a plan with a vision to further expand access to high-quality childcare and urge you to act immediately.”