Former United States (U.S.) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Democratic philanthropist George Soros, and actor-director Denzel Washington were among 19 prominent figures from various fields who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom yesterday at the White House. This is the highest civilian honor in the U.S.
President Joe Biden selected 19 well-known individuals from politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights, and LGBTQ activism to be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom this year.
The White House stated that the recipients had made exceptional contributions to the prosperity, values, and security of the U.S., world peace, or other significant societal, public, or private endeavors.
Four of the medals were awarded posthumously.
The posthumous recipients included Fannie Lou Hamer, founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, who laid the groundwork for the Voting Rights Act of 1965; former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy; George Romney, a former Michigan governor and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and Ash Carter, a former Secretary of Defense.
Kennedy was the father of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom incoming U.S. President Donald Trump had appointed as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Romney was the father of Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney, one of Trump’s most prominent conservative critics.
Among the philanthropists who were honored were Spanish-American chef Jose Andres, whose charity World Central Kitchen became one of the most renowned humanitarian organizations worldwide, and Bono, frontman of the rock band U2 and a social justice activist.
In sports and entertainment, recipients included soccer star Lionel Messi, Los Angeles Lakers basketball legend and businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson, actor Michael J. Fox, known for his advocacy in Parkinson’s disease research, and scientist Bill Nye.
Other honorees included conservationist Jane Goodall, longtime Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, U.S. fashion designer Ralph Lauren, American Film Institute founder George Stevens Jr., entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ activist Tim Gill, and David Rubenstein, co-founder of the global investment firm The Carlyle Group.
Biden also awarded 19 Presidential Medals of Freedom last year. Notable recipients included Medgar Evers, Nancy Pelosi, James Clyburn, and actress Michelle Yeoh.
