Donald Trump to award biggest campaign donor’s wife medal of freedom

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Donald Trump will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to seven “distinguished individuals,” including the wife of the Republican party’s largest donor, the White House announced. The White House is citing Ms Adelson's citing Ms Adelson's work to establish the Adelson Medical Research Foundation, which supports research on life-threatening illnesses, schools for Jewish students, support for Israeli military members and veterans, and Holocaust memorial organisations. The medal is also being awarded to legendary baseball player George "Babe" Ruth for his sports achievements as well as his charitable work, Elvis Presley for the rock legend's impact on music and his years of service in the US Army, Utah Republican Senator Orrin Hatch for his 40 years of public service, the late conservative US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, former Dallas Cowboys player and Vietnam War veteran Roger Staubach, and former Minnesota Vikings player Allen Page who also became the first African-American to serve on the Minnesota Supreme Court. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The medal, awarded for the first time by Mr Trump, is given to Americans who have "especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the country, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavours," according to the White House.