Trump Receives Made-Up Award From Iowa Candidate
On October 22, 2026, at Sioux Gateway Airport in Sioux City, Iowa, 29-year-old Republican congressional candidate Joe Mitchell presented President Donald Trump a gold-framed certificate he created, inscribed MAN OF THE CENTURY / President Donald J. Trump. On stage Mitchell called the Nobel omission a disgrace, introduced the Man of the Century Award, held it up saying CNN, zoom in right here, CNN, and thanked Trump as the greatest president. Trump accepted it, smiled, and handed it to an aide. A day earlier in Clemson, South Carolina, Trump had called 2026 Nobel laureate Navanethem Navi Pillay a mystery person. Mitchell, who served in the Iowa House from 2019 to 2023 and later at HUD and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, faces Democrat Lindsay James on November 3. Cook Political Report rates the race Lean Republican, a step from Likely Republican. Mitchell's primary drew over $1 million in individual contributions and Trump's endorsement; the DCCC added James, a Dubuque pastor in her fourth Iowa House term, to Red to Blue in July 2026. Mitchell said it has been tough for generic Republicans to win in Iowa right now. Users mocked his posted photo with Trump. Left-rated coverage stressed the made-up award, his Trump-like delivery, and Scarborough's self-inflicted-wound line; the right-rated outlet framed Trump as finally winning an award.