At last night’s State of the Union address, President Donald Trump took the time midway through the speech to bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Rush Limbaugh.

Limbaugh, who announced earlier this week that he has advanced lung cancer, was present to receive the honor.

While we understand the radio host has been an ally of the president and Republicans wanted to honor a friend who was ailing, his illness does not excuse the fact that his career flies in the face of what the medal represents.

According to the White House website, the medal is given to those who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”

Limbaugh has, through his 30 years on the air, worked to advance the interests of one party, who he has said he “carries water” for.

And he has been involved in numerous controversies throughout his career, whether it was mocking Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s Disease symptoms, being fired from Monday Night Football for racially-charged remarks, losing advertisers after calling a birth control activist “a slut,” or advancing numerous falsehoods, such as the birther conspiracy theory regarding former President Barack Obama.

Rather than serve to unite all Americans, Limbaugh has made his name fostering division and has contributed to much of the polarization of our political culture.

While one can be sympathetic to his current health issues, giving the award to such a partisan and controversial activist was a disservice.