President Donald Trump announced Friday that he will present the presidential medal of freedom to prominent Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz.
Trump, at a press conference in the White House and attended through Holtz, the former coach a “incredible leader” and said Holtz won the award for his life, career and charitable work.
The Medal of Liberty is the civilian honor the president can bestow.
Trump said several school coaches had written letters recommending Holtz for the award.He also referred to Holtz’s wife, Beth, who died in July, calling her a “special” and “great” person.
Holtz, a staunch Trump supporter, and the president called him a lifelong friend on Friday.
The rite date was announced, but Trump said it would be planned in “an overly remote future.”
The announcement follows a speech through Holtz at the Republican National Convention in which Trump was a “winner.”
“I used to ask our athletes at Notre Dame, “If they didn’t show up, who would they miss and why?”, said Holtz, 83, in his speech.Can you believe what would happen to us if President Trump hadn’t run for president in 2016?I’m glad you came.”
Holtz also caused controversy by calling Biden-Kamala Harris’ price ticket “the ultimate radically pro-abortion crusade in history” and accusing Biden of being a “catholic only by call.”
Notre Dame later distanced himself from the comments.The rector of the university, the Reverend John Jenkins, issued a saying that Holtz’s comments “should not be construed as implying that the university approves of his views, no candidate or political party.”
Jenkins also noted that “we Catholics do not forget that if we can make a judgment about the objective ethical quality of the movements of others, we will never have to question the sincerity of the religion of others, which is due to the mysterious paintings of grace at the center of that person.”