Joe Biden awards Hillary Clinton, Soros, Messi the Medal of Freedom
Hindustan TimesPresident Joe Biden will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to a group of entertainers, former government officials, athletes and philanthropists for their contributions to public service. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States Nineteen people will be honored at a White House ceremony on Saturday, the latest in a series of events Biden has held in the final weeks of his presidency as he tries to enshrine his legacy. Among those receiving the medal are former Secretary of State and US Senator Hillary Clinton, retired basketball star Earvin “Magic” Johnson, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, soccer player Lionel Messi, philanthropist George Soros, longtime fashion editor and media executive Anna Wintour and the film star Denzel Washington. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor, 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,” according to the White House. Biden also posthumously honored Ashton Carter, a Defense secretary in the Obama administration; Fannie Lou Hamer, a founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party who laid the groundwork for the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and George Romney, an auto company chief executive, a Republican governor of Michigan and the third secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
History of this topic
![Hillary Clinton, George Soros, Bono among 19 to get US's highest civilian honour](https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/indiatoday/images/story/202501/president-joe-biden-awarded-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom-to-19-prominent-figures-050638479-16x9_0.jpg?VersionId=MCt0c4SXx2iOh1pI9G71Vr._A_5jyR72)
Hillary Clinton, George Soros, Bono among 19 to get US's highest civilian honour
India Today![Hillary Clinton, George Soros, Bono among 19 to get US's highest civilian honour](https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/indiatoday/images/story/202501/president-joe-biden-awarded-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom-to-19-prominent-figures-050638479-16x9_0.jpg?VersionId=MCt0c4SXx2iOh1pI9G71Vr._A_5jyR72)
Hillary Clinton, George Soros, Bono among 19 to get US's highest civilian honour
India Today![Biden to award Medal of Freedom to 19, including Hillary Clinton, Bono and Jose Andres](https://static.independent.co.uk/2020/11/07/17/newFile-4.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp)
Biden to award Medal of Freedom to 19, including Hillary Clinton, Bono and Jose Andres
The Independent![Biden awards the Medal of Freedom to Nancy Pelosi, Medgar Evers, Michelle Yeoh and 15 others](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/04/17/1600x900/World_News_1713332107319_1713332146018.jpg)
Biden awards the Medal of Freedom to Nancy Pelosi, Medgar Evers, Michelle Yeoh and 15 others
Hindustan Times![Biden to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 politicians, activists, athletes and more](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2024/04/17/1600x900/World_News_1713332107319_1713332146018.jpg)
Biden to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 politicians, activists, athletes and more
Hindustan TimesBiden awards the Medal of Freedom to Nancy Pelosi, Medgar Evers, Michelle Yeoh and 16 others
Associated Press![Biden awards the Medal of Freedom to Nancy Pelosi, Medgar Evers, Michelle Yeoh, Al Gore and others](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e570f8e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4219x2215+0+299/resize/1200x630!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa9%2F9c%2F08201d5244e6ad90173201b24f1b%2Fbiden-62069.jpg)
Biden awards the Medal of Freedom to Nancy Pelosi, Medgar Evers, Michelle Yeoh, Al Gore and others
LA Times![Trump rewards ally Devin Nunes with Medal of Freedom](https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/dcac1a4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/700x394+0+28/resize/1440x810!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F90%2F29%2F4e3c1cc7446089a9101a7bdff4c8%2Fdefaultshareimage-copy.png)
Trump rewards ally Devin Nunes with Medal of Freedom
Associated Press![Radio host Limbaugh awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom](https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/520b28e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1688+0+156/resize/1440x810!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstorage.googleapis.com%2Fafs-prod%2Fmedia%2F22450dfd3c864e14b5ed9e67e3082ac2%2F3000.jpeg)
Radio host Limbaugh awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
Associated PressDiscover Related
![Ralph Lauren becomes first fashion designer to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2025/01/05/1600x900/ajja_1736082673225_1736082696043.jpg)
![Why top US award recipient George Soros is a controversial figure in India](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2025/01/05/1600x900/Philanthropy-Open-Society-Foundations-0_1736078983600_1736079005214.jpg)
![Ralph Lauren, Michael J Fox honoured with Presidential Medal of Freedom](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2025/01/05/1600x900/US-POLITICS-MEDAL-BIDEN-52_1736076148686_1736076171368.jpg)
![MAGA-world in meltdown after George Soros awarded the Medal of Freedom](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/07/22/19/GettyImages-693700256.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp)
![Lionel Messi breaks silence on ‘Biden snub’ for skipping Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2025/01/05/1600x900/FBL-WC-2026-SAMERICA-QUALIFIERS-ARG-PER-142_1732080324389_1736038949684.jpg)
![Elon Musk slams Biden for presenting highest civilian honour to George Soros, calls it 'travesty'](https://resize.indiatvnews.com/en/resize/newbucket/1200_-/2025/01/muskap-1736073510.jpg)
![President Biden confers US' highest civilian award on Hillary Clinton, George Soros, Lionel Messi](https://resize.indiatvnews.com/en/resize/newbucket/1200_-/2025/01/bidenclinton-1-1736053380.jpg)
![George Soros, Hillary Clinton among 19 recipient to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom by US Prez Joe Biden](https://www.opindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_2446.jpg)
![Biden honors Hillary Clinton, George Soros and Magic Johnson with Presidential Medal of Freedom](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7bd3cf3/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5547x2912+0+393/resize/1200x630!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe5%2F2f%2F51fec6b1492b93f79aa68e7f1b4f%2Faptopix-biden-medal-of-freedom-46160.jpg)
![Lionel Messi, George Soros, Ralph Lauren to receive highest US civilian honour](https://akm-img-a-in.tosshub.com/indiatoday/images/story/202501/messi--soros--ralph-lauren-043104319-16x9_0.jpeg?VersionId=aLFDudJe4XkWc4.XMiD.H_BEGXB.PwkT)
![Biden holds final Medal of Freedom ceremony, honoring Hillary Clinton, Bono and more](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/still-21259166-5115623-498-still.jpg?c=16x9&q=w_800,c_fill)
!['Complete joke': MAGA allies melt down as Liz Cheney awarded Presidential Citizens Medal](https://www.rawstory.com/media-library/u-s-president-joe-biden-gives-former-u-s-rep-liz-cheney-r-wy-the-presidential-citizens-medal-one-of-the-country-s-highest-c.jpg?id=55449093&width=1200&height=600&coordinates=0%2C396%2C0%2C396)
![Trump critic Liz Cheney to be awarded Presidential Citizens Medal by Biden](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/02/18/GettyImages-2179173219.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp)
![Biden To Honor Liz Cheney, 19 Others With Presidential Citizens Medal](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/6776b507160000230070a75a.jpeg?cache=ejE860Ow1c&ops=1200_630)
![Biden to award Trump critic Liz Cheney with service medal](https://www.rawstory.com/media-library/u-s-president-joe-biden-will-award-liz-cheney-a-former-republican-congresswoman-and-fierce-critic-of-donald-trump-with-a-citi.jpg?id=55446578&width=1200&height=600&coordinates=0%2C64%2C0%2C65)
![Biden to give 2nd-highest civilian award to lawmakers who probed Capitol Hill riots by Trump supporters](https://images.firstpost.com/uploads/2024/12/Biden-Dec-8-2024-AP-2024-12-62cb807743c2810fe651d3cb40352eed.jpg?im=FitAndFill=(1200,675))
![Biden to honor Liz Cheney, Bennie Thompson with top civilian award](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8256x4644+0+430/resize/1400/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F35%2F1e%2F5c7ad24048388737908f8190b369%2Fgettyimages-1245731110.jpg)
![US President Biden awards presidential medal to Trump critic Liz Cheney](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/AP25002430570419-1735856510.jpg?resize=1200%2C630)
![Biden gives civilian award to leaders of House Jan. 6 committee](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f22b903/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x3150+0+425/resize/1200x630!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F63%2Fc2%2Fe1d763724516861cf5ce12ccbc7e%2Fbiden-73913.jpg)
![Joe Biden regrets stepping out of the 2024 presidential race, thinks he'd have beat Trump: Report](https://images.firstpost.com/uploads/2024/06/Untitled-2024-06-28T135529.470-2024-06-aad59b71b80f6a861519b9062cb90df6.jpg?im=FitAndFill=(1200,675))
![Podcast: Who is Joe Biden? : The NPR Politics Podcast : NPR](https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2024/12/17/landscape-1600x900px-82-_wide-92db6415dff8bf31e7a83b56e3dac539ebe2666f.png?s=1400&c=100&f=png)
![Ground Game: Biden to host Trump, a GOP losing streak is broken, and Trump’s hush money verdict](https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/6f57fdf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/798x449+0+42/resize/1440x810!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F5a%2F1c%2Fbe49a8ec46f5b045dd7097e73b37%2F2by3-ground-game-logo.png)
![Biden Warns of 'Democratic Apocalypse' as Global Leaders Fear Trump's Return](https://images.firstpost.com/uploads/2024/10/Joe-Biden-2024-10-335a2c83086f158c758ae198a2dfa6bf-1200x675.jpg?im=FitAndFill=(1200,675))
![Emotional Biden, 81, appears to wipe away a tear and tells Hillary Clinton 'I love you' as he accepts award from Bill in New York](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/09/24/00/90014891-0-image-a-13_1727133474922.jpg)
![Biden sports Trump hat in show of 9/11 anniversary ‘unity’](https://th-i.thgim.com/public/news/national/2usj7j/article68632992.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/GXN8nrhWMAAVAqH.jpg)
!['Honour Of My Life': Tim Walz Formally Accepts Democratic Nomination For Vice President In DNC Speech](https://images.news18.com/ibnlive/uploads/2024/08/tim-walz-2024-08-9b0fecebf3ab562f92bb9817cdf00156-16x9.jpg?impolicy=website&width=1200&height=675)
![Joe Biden sets record straight at DNC about 'anger' over Kamala Harris handoff](https://www.rawstory.com/media-library/chicago-illinois-august-19-u-s-president-joe-biden-speaks-onstage-during-the-first-day-of-the-democratic-national-conventio.jpg?id=53387800&width=1200&height=600&coordinates=0%2C171%2C0%2C0)
![Biden gets a rousing ovation from Democrats as he gives Harris an enthusiastic endorsement](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ec3bd33/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5272x2768+0+374/resize/1200x630!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F91%2F48%2F2ed4f2dd44e498c47a751575f98d%2F1472058-la-pol-dnc-rcg586ct.jpg)
![Jill Biden to honor Joe at DNC amid dismay at those who pushed him aside](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/08/16/15/SEI217314381.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp)
!['Nothing but ego and appetite': Medal of Freedom recipient 'appalled' by Trump's remark](https://www.rawstory.com/media-library/a-gold-star-father-who-was-awarded-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom-the-nation-s-highest-civilian-honor-slammed-former-pres.png?id=53382343&width=1200&height=600&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C33)
![Medal of Honor recipient goes off on Trump: he 'does not understand' sacrifice for freedom](https://www.rawstory.com/media-library/donald-trump-looks-up.jpg?id=53146925&width=1200&height=600&coordinates=0%2C787%2C0%2C788)
![Trump insults veterans again by saying civilian award he gave megadonor is ‘much better’ than Medal of Honor](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/08/15/23/SEI217524611.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp)
!['Disqualifies himself': Veterans blast Trump for 'disrespectful' remarks about war heroes](https://www.rawstory.com/media-library/donald-trump-holds-flag.jpg?id=52228497&width=1200&height=600&coordinates=0%2C276%2C0%2C277)
![Trump Says Civilian Award He Gave To Donor ‘Much Better’ Than Medal Of Honor](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/66bec61d2300003200e926e3.jpeg?cache=OC5VVIFHRA&ops=1200_630)
![What President Biden’s decision means for Gov. Newsom](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c399632/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2771x1455+0+196/resize/1200x630!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F50%2F36%2Fca53547249578b689bc24775030d%2Fbiden-96871.jpg)
!['Threat to Democracy!' Trump aims conspiracy-riddled rant at Joe Biden](https://www.rawstory.com/media-library/trump.jpg?id=29750786&width=1200&height=600&coordinates=0%2C25%2C0%2C25)
![Profile | Joe Biden: America’s man of the middle steps down](https://fl-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/e3rk7c/article68432027.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/joe%20biden.jpg)
![Biden is out of the presidential race. Here's what we know.](https://compote.slate.com/images/d726522c-3f3a-4d76-8667-459dfedbc862.jpeg?crop=1560%2C1040%2Cx0%2Cy0&width=1560)