President Biden Awards Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 Honorees

President Biden Awards Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 Honorees

On Saturday, January 4, US President Joe Biden awarded the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 distinguished individuals, honoring their exemplary contributions across various fields, including entertainment, sports, activism, and diplomacy. This highest civilian honor recognizes those who have made significant impacts on American society and the world.

Among the honorees was Hillary Clinton, who has held multiple influential roles, including First Lady, senator, and Secretary of State. The White House noted that she "made history many times over decades in public service."

Other notable recipients included actors Michael J. Fox and Denzel Washington, U2 frontman Bono, soccer star Lionel Messi of Inter Miami, and philanthropist George Soros. Posthumous awards were given to former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer, former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, and former Michigan Governor George W. Romney.

Other honorees included renowned ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, retired Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson, chef and World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, science educator Bill Nye "The Science Guy," LGBTQ activist Tim Gill, billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein, and American Film Institute founder George Stevens Jr.

Several recipients have been longtime supporters of Biden and the Democratic Party. In his remarks before presenting the awards, Biden emphasized the collective impact of the honorees, stating, "Together, you leave an incredible mark - and I mean this sincerely, this group - you leave an incredible mark on our country.