Trump marks Black History Month, announces Medal of Freedom for Carson and praises Nicki Minaj

President Trump announced Ben Carson will receive Presidential Medal of Freedom at White House Black History Month event celebrating its centennial milestone. Donald Trump Trump marks Black History Month, announces Medal of Freedom for Carson and praises Nicki Minaj Former HUD secretary to receive nation's highest civilian honor at future White House ceremony By Jasmine Baehr Fox News Published February 18, 2026 6:04pm EST Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Trump announces Presidential Medal of Freedom for Ben Carson President says former HUD secretary will receive the nation’s highest civilian honor during White House Black History Month event. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! President Donald Trump announced that former Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a White House event marking the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, as attendees at one point broke into chants of "four more years." "Ben’s getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom," Trump said. "It’s the highest award you can have outside of the Congressional Medal of Honor."Trump said Carson would receive the nation’s top civilian honor at a future ceremony, telling him, "Ben, I’ll be seeing you back here pretty soon. I think you’re going to get the award." The announcement came as Trump mixed tributes and cultural references with policy and political claims including criminal justice reform, crime reduction and border enforcement while hosting what he described as "many exceptional African American leaders and patriots" at the White House. NICKI MINAJ BROKE FREE FROM IDENTITY POLITICS — AND THE LEFT CAN’T STAND IT Trump opened the event by noting, "we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Black History Month."He then addressed the death of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, saying, "I wanted to begin by expressing a sadness that the passing of a person who was. I knew very well Jesse was a piece of work. He was a piece of work. But he was a good man." "I just want to pay my highest respects to Reverend Jesse Jackson," Trump added, calling him "a real hero," and saying "he really was special, with lots of personality, grit and street smarts."Trump introduced HUD Secretary Scott Turner and brought Carson to the front of the room, noting Carson had recommended Turner. Carson praised Turner’s role in opportunity zones, saying "he was really the driving force behind the Opportunity zones," and described Trump’s approach as "public private partnerships, and had everybody with skin in the game." TRUMP ALLY BEN CARSON SWORN IN AS NATIONAL ADVISOR FOR NUTRITION, HEALTH, AND HOUSING WITH USDA US President Donald Trump speaks alongside former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson and current Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Scott Turner during a Black History Month event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 18, 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Moments later, Trump returned to Carson and elaborated on the award."It’s better because, you know, a lot of people get the Congressional Medal of Honor, and they’re not around," Trump said. "But it’s the highest award [for] a civilian."After remarks from Leo Terrell whom Trump thanked, saying, "Leo, that was very good," the crowd assembled broke into a chant of "four more years." Later, while listing Black artists and athletes, Trump singled out rapper Nicki Minaj.NICKI MINAJ DOUBLES DOWN ON TRUMP SUPPORT AFTER BACKLASH, CALLS HERSELF HIS 'NUMBER ONE FAN' US President Donald Trump speaks during a Black History Month event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 18, 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)"I love Nicki Minaj. She was here a couple of weeks ago." "So beautiful," he added, before saying, "and she gets it. And more importantly, she gets it." Trump connected Wednesday's celebration to a broader national moment, saying, "Black History Month is really all about American history," and referencing upcoming America250 programming.The President outlined a series of policy accomplishments for the black community, saying he "single handedly secured record long term funding for" historically Black colleges and universities and reiterated, "we got criminal justice reform done," adding, "Nobody thought it can be done." 'MELANIA' WORLD PREMIERE: PRESIDENT TRUMP, FIRST LADY, RFK JR., NICKI MINAJ AND MANY MORE LIGHT UP RED CARPET US President Donald Trump greets Alice Marie Johnson, the "White House Pardon Czar," during a Black History Month event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 18, 2026. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)Trump tied those policies to electoral performance, saying, "it’s no wonder that in 2024, we won more African-American votes than any Republican president in history." Trump also cited economic indicators, saying, "Earlier this month the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose above 50,000 for the first time ever," and adding, "The S&P broke 7000." "More Americans are working today than at any time in American