WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he will award Ben Carson the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

"Congratulations, Ben. He didn’t know this," Trump said during an event at Mount Vernon for the American Cornerstone Institute, founded by Carson. "He didn’t know it. I hope he’s happy."

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is considered the U.S. government's highest civilian honor, and is often presented to individuals "to recognize a lifetime of significant achievements in the arts, public service, science or other fields," according to Congress .

This is the third such award the president has announced this month. He announced on Sept. 1 that he was awarding former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The president announced on S

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