President Trump on Thursday awarded the Medal of Valor to five first responders for their heroic actions in the aftermath of last month’s shooting at a congressional baseball practice.

He also spoke of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise Stephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseHouse GOP slated to unveil agenda ahead of election House panel details 'serious' concerns around Florida, Georgia, Texas, Wisconsin elections Scalise hit with ethics complaint over doctored Barkan video MORE (R-La.), who is still recovering from injuries sustained in the shooting. Trump called the Republican congressman "a fighter."

Three members of the Alexandria, Va., police departments and two U.S. Capitol Police special agents received the nation’s highest honor for public safety officers from Trump.

“These officers saved the lives of every innocent person on the field that day,” Trump said in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, calling them “American heroes.”

He lauded the officers, telling the tale of how they “raced through the bullets” to take down the shooter.

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Congressional Republicans were practicing for their annual baseball game against Democrats when a gunman opened fire on June 14. The assailant wounded Scalise and three others before he was shot dead by police.

One of the wounded was Capitol Police Special Agent Crystal Griner, who on Thursday hopped up to the podium on crutches and sat beside the other four officers behind the president.

Scalise was seriously injured in the shooting and had to undergo multiple surgeries. He was discharged from the hospital this week.



“Steve is a fighter,” Trump said. “We’ve known that for a long time. This week he was discharged from the hospital and is now beginning weeks of intensive rehabilitation at an inpatient facility. He will recover. We are praying for him, we are pulling for him and we are sending his family our support and our love.”

He noted that a bill making its way through Congress would provide more support for Capitol Police.

Addressing Scalise’s wife, who was in the crowd, Trump said: “Jennifer, you can tell Steve he pulled it off. That’s better than being a [congressional] whip. I hope it gets to my desk soon. I will sign it immediately.”

Also on hand to watch the ceremony were Matt Mike and Zachary Barth, a lobbyist and congressional staffer who were also injured in the shooting, and more than a dozen GOP lawmakers.