Benny Johnson, a popular online MAGA personality, floated the idea of awarding Edward “Big Balls” Coristine, a 19-year-old former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer who was allegedly assaulted by juvenile suspects in a recent attempted carjacking in Washington, D.C., the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the White House press briefing on Tuesday.
“Given the heroic actions of a member of this administration just a few blocks from this building, will the president consider giving the Presidential Medal of Freedom to ‘Big Balls?’” Johnson asked White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during the briefing.
Johnson was given the briefing invite as part of the White House press office’s “new media” seat initiative to give more right-wing influencers and journalists prominent seats and opportunities to ask questions during the briefings.
“I haven’t spoken to him about that, but perhaps it’s something he would consider,” Leavitt replied. “I’ll ask him and get back to you, Benny. Thanks for being here.”
Last week, President Trump posted a photo of Coristine apparently taken after the attempted carjacking, showing him sitting up on the ground, shirtless, with his face, chest, and pants stained with what appeared to be blood.
“Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control,” Trump claimed in the post, and suggested that minors involved in such crimes should be prosecuted as adults. The suspects in the Coristine incident are underage.
“The Law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these ‘minors’ as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14,” the president said.
