Trump gives award to Morocco's king in private ceremony

President Donald Trump has awarded a top U.S. hor to King Mohammed VI of Morocco, citing his decision to begin rmalization of relations with Israel. Legion of Merit is a rarely awarded decoration that can only be bestowed by president, and typically on heads of state or government of or countries.

hor comes after United States in December recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over entire Western Sahara territory, including disputed area between sourn Morocco and Mauritania. Morocco, in turn, agreed to resume partial diplomatic ties with Israel in near future, establish direct flights between nations, and promote ecomic and techlogical cooperation.

Trump has sought to make bolstering regional support for Israel as a countermeasure to Iranian aggression a signature foreign policy legacy of his administration. King Mohammed was t in Washington to accept award. Morocco’s ambassador to U.S., Princess Lalla Joumala, accepted it on his behalf in a private ceremony, according to a White House statement.

Trump in his final days in office has spent time horing friends and allies with presidential awards.Earlier this week, Trump awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom to Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, one of his fiercest GOP allies, in a private ceremony at White House. White House also anunced this week that Trump would be awarding New England coach Bill Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl winner, Medal of Freedom. But Belichick declined to accept award.

(Im Credit: AP)