Trump Signs Bill Establishing Monument in Washington for Medal of Honor Recipients

ARLINGTON, Texas—President Donald Trump visited the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday and signed legislation establishing a monument in Washington to recognize recipients of the nation’s highest military valor award.

“With this museum and a new monument in Washington D.C., America will never ever forget what they did, and what they risked, and how much they risked, what they’ve meant to their families and what they’ve meant to our country,” Trump said in a speech ahead of the signing.

The legislation, called the Hershel “Woody” Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act, will authorize the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to build the new monument on the National Mall.

Trump said his administration will work to get the new National Medal of Honor Monument the “best site” in all of Washington, D.C.

No federal funds will be used to cover the monument, as it will be funded by the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation.

The act was named after Williams, a flamethrower operator for the Marine Corps who was deployed to Iwo Jima in the days after D-Day.

“You had 300 flamethrower operators on Iwo Jima, they had a casualty rate of substantially over 90 percent so, like I said, it’s dangerous,” Trump said. “And Woody was one of the few who survived, but he survived with a lot of trauma. We’re joined today by Woody’s family, great family. Thank you for all being here as we sign this bill honoring Woody and more than 3,500 other true American patriots.”

Williams died in 2022, at which point he was the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor Recipient.

Thursday’s ceremony included 15 of the 65 living recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The event was also attended by House Speaker Mike Johnson, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, and Rep. John McGuire (R-Va.).

At the end of the event, the foundation presented Trump with the Champion of Honor Award for his commitment to preserving and sharing the legacies of the Medal of Honor recipients.

The president’s visit to the Lone Star State is underway during the first-ever 2026 Republican Midterm Convention, which kicked off on Sept. 9, less than two months before the November election.

The high-profile event is part of Trump’s efforts to boost Republicans in tight races and help the party hold on to Congress.

During Trump’s keynote address on Wednesday, he surprised Americans by suggesting he would provide a $5,000 dividend payment to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans won the House and Senate this fall.

Vice President JD Vance will give the keynote address on Thursday night, and Trump will attend the closing ceremony.