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The president, who's more often undermining LGBT people, today honored one who helped save lives when a gunman attacked a congressional baseball practice.
Donald Trump, who's been spending a lot of time trying to oppress LGBT people, today took a few minutes to honor one -- Capitol Police Special Agent Crystal Griner.
Griner was one of five police officers to whom Trump presented the Medal of Valor, the nation's highest honor for public safety personnel, for their response to the June 14 shooting at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Va. They helped take down the gunman, who had shot and wounded U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise and some congressional staffers, and the officers also prevented further injuries.
Griner was shot in the leg during the incident but continued standing her ground, according to the citation read at the White House ceremony. She and her wife, Tiffany Dyar, received a presidential visit while Griner was hospitalized. The officer is still using crutches.
Griner and fellow Capitol Police Special Agent David Bailey were at the practice as the security detail assigned to Scalise as part of the House leadership; he is majority whip. Bailey also received the Medal of Valor, as did Alexandria Police Officers Nicole Battaglia, Kevin Jobe, and Alexander Jensen.
"They raced through the bullets," Trump said. "That's exactly what they did. They raced through the bullets and immediately engaged the gunman." The gunman died in the shootout.
Trump maintained an unusually subdued manner as he made his remarks and presented the medal to each officer, along with a handshake or pat on the arm. He did kiss Griner on the cheek -- she was the only honoree to get that treatment. Trump also praised the medical personnel who took care of the wounded.
The members of Congress were practicing for an annual charity baseball game between Republicans and Democrats. Scalise, a Republican from Louisiana, was seriously injured in the attack, as a bullet went through his hip and damaged blood vessels, bones, and internal organs. He was released from the hospital just this week and is still undergoing rehab in an inpatient facility. He was unable to attend the ceremony, but his wife, Jennifer, was present. He released a statement saying, "I cannot think of a group of individuals more deserving of this award."
Watch video of the ceremony below.
