President-elect Donald Trump received the “Patriot of the Year” award on Thursday at a Long Island ceremony hosted by Fox Nation. Trump accepted the flag-inspired award following a live performance of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA,” his customary entrance song. In his acceptance address, Trump reflected on his campaign for the White House and asserted that the nation is already experiencing the benefits of his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. “We had such a spectacular election,” Trump said after receiving the award at the Tilles Center for Performing Arts in Brookville, NY.
“It was a tremendous day, a tremendous night, a tremendous period of time,” the president-elect added, noting that he went “72 days” without a day off in the run-up to Election Day, the New York Post reported. “I think you have seen more happen in the last two weeks than you’ve seen in the last four years, and we’re not even there yet,” he continued, adding, “We’re going to make America great again.” The ceremony—Fox Nation’s sixth annual Patriot Awards—honored several inspirational individuals, including military veterans, first responders, and Stephanie Diller, the widow of slain NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller.
Around 2,000 elegantly dressed attendees filled the venue, with many displaying American flags and wearing “Make America Great Again” apparel. Fox News host Sean Hannity served as the emcee for the ceremony, describing this year’s honorees as “an eclectic blend of people” who “deserve recognition.” “What I love about it is unlike, say, the Oscars or the Grammys or the Tonys, this honors the men and women that really do make the country great every day, unsung heroes and real patriots. They never get any recognition,” Hannity told his network’s flagship outlet, Fox News Digital. “And I think that’s what makes it special. And there are so many great patriots in the country that deserve recognition. It’s an honor to be a part of it,” he added.
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FULL REMARKS: President Trump at the Fox Nation Patriot Awards pic.twitter.com/kkCQhbS2y8
— Team Trump (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@TeamTrump) December 6, 2024
The event featured awards recognizing service to veterans, bravery, courage, and various other categories. Approximately a dozen Fox News personalities, including Jesse Watters, Laura Ingraham, and Judge Jeanine Pirro, attended the ceremony and served as presenters, The Post added. Since winning the election, Trump has made only a few public appearances, choosing to remain at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, as he works on assembling his incoming administration.
This week, the president-elect made a rare public appearance by attending a memorial service honoring Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies who lost their lives in the line of duty. Additionally, he announced plans to travel to Paris on Saturday to celebrate the grand reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, which was devastated by a fire during his first term.
