Trump awards 100-year-old veteran with Medal of Honor, receives bipartisan ovation

President Donald Trump presented the Medal of Honor to 100-year-old veteran E. Royce Williams during his State of the Union address in Washington, D.C., in 2026, recognizing the extraordinary military service of the centenarian who fought in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The emotional moment drew a rare bipartisan ovation from members of Congress who stood to honor the decorated veteran, whose remarkable life spanned nearly a century of American military history. Williams, one of the few Americans to have served in three major 20th century conflicts, received the nation's highest military decoration for his extraordinary heroism and distinguished service under fire during multiple deployments. The presentation underscored the administration's commitment to honoring aging veterans and preserving the stories of those who defended the nation through decades of conflict.