Olympic bobsled champion Kaillie Humphries surprised President Trump Thursday by awarding him the Order of Ikkos medal during White House women’s history month event with Melania Trump.
“Every Olympic medalist in the United States gets an Order of Ikkos that they get to hand to somebody in honor and recognition of somebody who’s made a meaningful contribution to their journey to the podium, because Olympic medals are never achieved alone,” Humphries explained.
“I’m so honored to present this, my Order of Ikkos medal, to you, Donald Trump,” she revealed.
Humphries, who took home two bronze medals at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, believes Trump is the first president in history to ever be given the prestigious award.
Named after Ikkos, the first recorded coach in Ancient Greece, the silver medal bearing a torch is often given to coaches or mentors of Olympic athletes – but Humphries said she wanted to recognize Trump for his pro-women policies that have personally impacted her life.
“I want to recognize the support and the impact you’ve had on women’s sports … specifically standing up to keep biological women in women’s sports, to keep the field of play safe and allow for fair competition,” the three-time Olympic gold medalist said.
Humphries also praised Trump’s policies “creating greater access to IVF. so families like mine can continue to grow.”
The bobsledder explained that she became a mother in 2024 after a “two-and-a-half year process through IVF,” and that many doubted she would ever compete in the sport again.
“Wow! I knew I liked her!” Trump beamed after receiving the award.
Humphries was one of several women Trump brought up to the podium to tout his administration’s efforts to help families.
Heather Kell, a waitress and single mom from Hendersonville, N.C., said she “had to do a double take” when she did her taxes this year, crediting the savings to Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Nora Pruitt, a married mom of seven, suggested Trump’s efforts to revitalize domestic manufacturing landed her a “career job” at a steel factory in Baltimore, Md., which “totally changed our lives.”
Lexi Chambers, a second generation farmer from Virginia, lauded Trump’s “support of American agriculture,” declaring that it has provided “families like mine the opportunity to ensure that my daughters can farm one day.”
Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook quipped that her Florida county is “the only place safer than Washington,” before touting the “additional dollars from their hard work” that law enforcement officers are realizing through Trump’s no tax on tipped wages policy.
The president was introduced to the stage by the first lady, who called on women to be courageous and take risks.
“The strength of America is closely tied to the role women play in shaping their children’s character, education, and morals,” Melania Trump said. “The values cultivated within our communities shape the voice and vision of our next generation.
“A woman’s influence strengthens our democracy, capital markets, and time-tested business institutions.”
Melania touted her husband’s “strong commitment to promoting women in leadership roles.”
“We love women. Women are the whole deal,” Trump said in his remarks.
The president took credit for creating “more than 300,000 jobs now filled by proud, hardworking American women.”
“It’s a record,” he said, noting that women-owned businesses shot up “by 1.2 million last year alone.”
“That’s also a record,” Trump said.
