Donald Trump-backed Nevada Republican David Flippo is facing criticism for repeatedly claiming in campaign materials that he earned a Bronze Star "for valor," a distinction he does not possess according to military records. Flippo received a Bronze Star for meritorious service, but not the separate "V" device that denotes acts of heroism during direct combat with an enemy, a considerably rarer honour. Military experts and retired officers have characterised the repeated misstatement as a "pattern of deception" designed to exaggerate his military credentials, prompting questions about his campaign's integrity as he runs for Nevada's 2nd Congressional District.

The false claim first appeared in Flippo's 2023 congressional campaign announcement video and resurfaced in February 2026 fundraising emails, only being removed after media scrutiny. Flippo's campaign has offered inconsistent explanations—first attributing the error to a copywriter recycling outdated talking points, then to video editors mistakenly merging his decorations. Flippo served 24 years in the Air Force (1985–2009) as a maintenance and logistics officer, overseeing fuel distribution for combat operations during the Iraq War, but held no direct combat role. The Nevada Republican Party defended him by calling it a simple mistake, whilst his endorsement by Trump has created division within the state party, with outgoing Representative Mark Amodei backing Flippo's opponent instead.