What to Know
At the National Republican Congressional Committee’s annual fundraiser on March 25, President Donald Trump was presented with the “America First Award.” If you’ve never heard of it, that’s because it didn’t exist prior to this event and is actually totally made up. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that Republicans decided to do something new and “honor” Trump with a “token of [their] appreciation for his leadership.”
To critics, this “award” is laughable and cringeworthy on so many levels.
Johnson claimed that Trump “has done so much for the American people.”
Just when you thought the GOP couldn’t be a more embarrassing cult, Speaker Mike Johnson presented Donald Trump with the “first-ever America First Award”:
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) March 26, 2026
“We have created a new award. We are going to do something we’ve never done before. We will honor him with a new award…… pic.twitter.com/CduOTi6k5X
When introducing the so-called America First Award, he said, “We want to honor him, in some small way, some token of our appreciation for his leadership. And so, tonight, we have created a new award. We are going to do something we’ve never done before. We are going to honor him with a new award that we’ll present annually from this point forward.”
He continued, “But he is the suitable and fitting recipient of the first-ever America First Award. We could think of no better title for what that is.” Johnson then explained that the physical award is a “beautiful golden statue,” which is “appropriate for the new golden era in America.” Riiiight.
We all know that Trump loves attention and recognition, and this is not the first time he has been presented with a fake award. Mining executives at the White House recently gave him the “Undisputed Champion of Beautiful, Clean Coal” award. And people found it equally absurd when FIFA presented him with the inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize” in December 2025.
People think the “America First Award” is not another “participation trophy.”
Psaki: Trump's many awards are "like the EGOT for insecure man baby presidents"
— The Briefing with Jen Psaki (@briefingwithpsaki.bsky.social) March 25, 2026 at 10:13 PM
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MS NOW host Jen Psaki described it like this: “Little Mike Johnson and all those Republicans have just created yet another participation trophy to give their very special boy in the White House to make sure he feels good about himself.”
The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg also found it ridiculous. She said, “I’ve never seen someone who’s so needy. This is the most snowflakiest president I’ve ever seen. I mean, you need an award? You’re the head of the country— why do you need an award?”
And, of course, Trump’s favorite late-night hosts also had something to say. Jimmy Kimmel said, “I can’t figure out who should be more embarrassed: the guy who came up with the new award, or the guy who proudly accepted the new award.” He also said it’s almost sad how happy Trump gets when he receives these fake awards. “My favorite part, when they give Trump these awards, is when he comes out with a look of surprise on his face,” he said. “And the saddest part is, he seems to be genuinely honored by these imaginary accolades.”
Seth Meyers asked what everyone was thinking: “How many fake trophies that were made specifically for him is this guy going to get?” And besides, is it really a “participation trophy” if Trump is not actually participating in the thing the award is supposed to honor him for? “First the FIFA Peace Prize, now the America First award — and he’s neither America first nor pro-peace,” Meyers added. “He’s getting a participation trophy for something he didn’t even participate in.”
On social media, reactions were similar.
I’ll never understand how displays like this don’t cause people to spontaneously combust with embarrassment. https://t.co/9k9ZNOGAo5
— Sarah Longwell (@SarahLongwell25) March 26, 2026
One critic on X called the new award “utterly meaningless.” Someone else said, “They are now the Participation Award Party.” Another person questioned, “Don’t they ever get tired of kissing his a–?”
Besides, are they really not embarrassed, like at all? “Everyone is just creating new shiny awards to him now like he’s a d— child,” another X user pointed out.
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