President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to nineteen individuals, including Hillary Clinton and George Soros, during a ceremony at the White House. Biden praised the recipients for their contributions to the prosperity, values, and security of the United States. The award is given to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to society.
Clinton, the first woman nominated by a major party for president, received the award just before President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. Soros, a major Democratic donor and founder of the Open Society Foundations, has contributed billions to human rights and pro-democracy causes.
Other recipients included chef José Andrés, conservationist Jane Goodall, and science educator Bill Nye. Entertainment, sports, and cultural icons like Bono, Michael J. Fox, and Denzel Washington were also honored.
Several recipients, including Robert F. Kennedy, Ashton Carter, and George Romney, were honored posthumously. Biden himself received the award in 2017. He has awarded the medal to dozens of others during his time in office.
In addition to the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to 20 recipients, including Rep. Bennie Thompson and former Rep. Liz Cheney. The ceremony comes as Thompson and Cheney face backlash for their roles on the House Jan. 6 committee. The Presidential Citizens Medal is the second-highest civilian honor in the United States.
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