Legacy The Profile in Courage Award was created in 1989 by the Kennedy family to celebrate the quality of political courage President Kennedy admired. It bears the title of his 1957 book “Profiles in Courage,” which won a 1957 Pulitzer Prize.
Maritime theme. The award is a sterling silver lantern by the jeweler Tiffany. The lantern is patterned after lanterns on the USS Constituionm which was launched in 1797. It was the last sail-powered ship to remain part of U.S. Navy.
Citizens cited for “extraordinary resolve”
WASHINGTON — A John F. Knnedy Courage Award is going to “the people of the Twin Cities, Minnesota” who protested the brutal Trump occupation of Minneapolis and forced a retreat. The bipartisan selectin committee split evenly for the 2026 award, also naming Federal Board Chair Jerome Powell, who has weathered Trump attacks for refusing dictates to change U.S. monetary policy. The Minnesota citation:
“The people of the Twin Cities responded with extraordinary courage and resolve. Tens of thousands took to the streets to peacefully protest federal overreach and threats to immigrant families and constitutional protections, while others documented enforcement activity and alerted neighbors to federal agents’ presence.”
The presentation will be at ceremonies in May. Previous recipients include former Vice President Mike Pence, former President Barack Obama, former Senator Mitt Romney, and the leaders of South Korea and Japan.