Trump to award Presidential Medal of Freedom to Rush Limbaugh

By Gabby Orr, Daniel Lippman and Meridith McGraw
·3 min read

President Donald Trump plans to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the highest civilian award in the U.S. – to conservative radio icon Rush Limbaugh after learning of his advanced cancer diagnosis, the president told television anchors at a private lunch.

Limbaugh, 69, revealed his cancer diagnosis on his popular radio program Monday afternoon, telling listeners that his treatment plan likely means “there are going to be days when I’m not able to be here.” A Florida resident himself, Limbaugh has repeatedly been spotted golfing with Trump at the president’s Mar-a-Lago beach club and dining at the clubhouse afterwards.

Trump told network anchors earlier Tuesday that he was saddened by the news of Limbaugh’s diagnosis and had extended a last-minute invitation for him to join the first lady in the gallery at the State of the Union, according to four people familiar with the conversation. The president also said he could award the Medal of Freedom to Limbaugh as soon as next week, adding that his preference would be to do it during the State of the Union, according to two of the people familiar with his comments.

One person at Tuesday’s lunch said Trump appeared to be “ shaken up” by the news, and kept mentioning that he and Limbaugh had seen each other in West Palm Beach, Fla. as recently as Dec. 22, when the president was in town for an extended holiday stay and had lunch with Limbaugh, professional golfer Jim Herman and his son Eric Trump.

“He said he told Rush, ‘You look great – like you’ve lost weight,’ but that Limbaugh didn’t say anything at the time about his health,” this person said.

Limbaugh, who did not respond to a request for comment, said on his radio program that he was officially diagnosed with lung cancer by “two medical institutions back on Jan. 20.” The news came less than a month after he renewed his contract for a four-year deal with Premier Radio Networks, the syndication company that hosts his program.

“Rush just signed another four-year contract. He just wants four more years, OK?” Trump told a crowd at an event with evangelical supporters on Jan. 3 in Miami.

Several administration officials weighed in on Twitter about Limbaugh’s diagnosis, including Vice President Mike Pence, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway and Trump himself.

“Many people do not know what a great guy and fantastic political talent the great Rush Limbaugh is,” Trump wrote. “There is nobody like him. Looking for a speedy recovery for our friend!”

Asked about the forthcoming award, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in an email, "I actually have ethics so I’m not going to comment on an off the record lunch."

Limbaugh would not be the first friend of the administration to receive the presidential honor since Trump took office. The president previously awarded the Medal of Freedom to Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson and retired GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch, and posthumously to the late conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.