President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 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. Clinton received the award just before Donald Trump’s second term inauguration, while Soros was recognized for his philanthropic contributions to human rights and democracy causes.
Other recipients included humanitarian José Andrés, conservationist Jane Goodall, and science educator Bill Nye. Entertainment icons like Bono, Michael J. Fox, and Denzel Washington were also honored, as well as athletes like Lionel Messi and Magic Johnson. The award was also given posthumously to figures such as Robert F. Kennedy, Ashton Carter, and George Romney.
Biden himself received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2017. He has continued the tradition of awarding the medal to deserving individuals during his time in office. Earlier in the week, Biden also awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to 20 recipients, including Bennie Thompson and Liz Cheney, for their work on the House Jan. 6 committee. The Presidential Citizens Medal is the second-highest civilian honor, following the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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