Trump to award Medal of Freedom to retired Gen. Jack Keane

by Morgan Chalfant - 03/04/20 4:09 PM ET

Alex Wong/Getty Images
Retired Gen. Jack Keane, former vice chief of staff of the U.S. Army, testifies during a hearing before the House Homeland Security Committee January 15, 2014 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The committee held a hearing on “A False Narrative Endangers the Homeland,” focusing on the administration’s narrative on the threat from al Qaeda.

President Trump will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Jack Keane, a retired four-star Army general and senior strategic analyst for Fox News, the White House said Wednesday.

Trump will award the medal to Keane next week, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement. The award represents the U.S.’s highest civilian honor.

“General Jack Keane is a retired four-star general, former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army, and a well-respected foreign policy and national security expert,” Grisham said.

“General Keane has devoted his life to keeping America safe and strong, and he has earned many awards, including two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, five Legions of Merit, two Army Distinguished Service Medals, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Ronald Reagan Peace through Strength Award,” she continued.

Keane, who retired from the military in 2003, is a frequent presence on Fox News who often defends the president’s foreign policy decisions. He has been known to advise Trump on military decisions with respect to Syria and reportedly twice turned down an offer to be Trump’s Defense secretary.

Keane is also the chairman of the Institute for the Study of War, a national security policy think tank.

Tags Donald Trump Stephanie Grisham