Hillary Clinton and George Soros to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Saturday bestowed the nation’s highest civilian honor on more than a dozen politicians, philanthropists and cultural icons during a ceremony at the White House.

Nineteen people have received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and billionaire George Soros. Four people were honored posthumously.

In a speech at the ceremony, Biden called the honorees “a collection of people, with different backgrounds, beliefs and talents, different generations and different agendas, using their remarkable gifts and unwavering passion to strengthen our resolve as one nation under indivisible God. , liberty and justice for all.”

He addressed the group, telling them, “You have answered the call to serve and led others to do the same, and you defend America’s values ​​even when they are under attack, because ‘they were. »

The medal is “presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public, or private endeavors,” the House said. Blanche in a press release before the ceremony. ceremony.

“These nineteen Americans are great leaders who have made America a better place,” the statement added. “They are great leaders because they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and to the world. »

Clinton received the award about two weeks before her former political rival, President-elect Donald Trump, was sworn in for a second term. In 2016, Clinton became the first woman nominated by a major party for president before losing to Trump.

Soros, who founded the Open Society Foundations, has contributed more than $32 billion to his organization, which supports various human rights and democracy causes, according to its website. He is also a major Democratic donor.

Other Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients Saturday included humanitarian and chef José Andrés, whose World Central Kitchen helped provide food to civilians in war zones and areas affected by natural disasters; Jane Goodall, a renowned ecologist and scientist; and Bill Nye, a science educator who rose to fame on the show “Bill Nye the Science Guy.”

Several icons of entertainment, sports and culture were also honored, including U2 singer Bono, actors Michael J. Fox and Denzel Washington, athletes Lionel Messi and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, as well as music icons Anna Wintour and Ralph Lauren fashion.

Biden also honored several recipients posthumously, including Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 during a presidential campaign. Kennedy was a senator representing New York and had served as attorney general during the administration of his brother, President John F. Kennedy.

Ashton Carter, who served as Secretary of Defense during the Obama administration and oversaw the United States’ campaign against the Islamic State, and George Romney, governor of Michigan in the 1960s and father of former Senator Mitt Romney , R.-Utah.

Biden himself received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2017, during the final days of the Obama administration. Then-President Barack Obama surprised Biden by presenting him with the award “with distinction,” an added honor.

Biden awarded the medal to dozens of others during his four years in office. The ceremonies are typically held about once a year, although Biden also awarded the medal to former Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards in November.

Earlier this week, Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens’ Medal to 20 recipients, including Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. Thompson and Cheney served on the House committee on January 6 and faced Trump’s wrath. The Presidential Citizens’ Medal is the second highest civilian honor, behind the Presidential Medal of Freedom.