President Joe Biden has awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and philanthropist George Soros, along with 17 other individuals.
During the ceremony, President Biden stated that the honorees were chosen for their “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public, or private endeavors.”
The 19 recipients of the 2024 Presidential Medal of Freedom are:
• Hillary Rodham Clinton, former First Lady and former Secretary of State.
• Michael J. Fox, actor best known for Back to the Future and advocate for Parkinson’s disease research.
• Earvin “Magic” Johnson, NBA legend and Los Angeles Lakers icon.
• Ralph Lauren, world-renowned fashion designer.
• Lionel Messi, Argentine soccer legend and MLS player.
• Denzel Washington, Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian.
• Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue.
• Bill Nye, popular science communicator known as “Bill Nye the Science Guy.”
• Robert Francis Kennedy, posthumously honored former U.S. Senator and Attorney General.
• Jane Goodall, primatologist and environmentalist.
• David Rubenstein, billionaire philanthropist and co-founder of The Carlyle Group.
• José Andrés, celebrity chef and founder of World Central Kitchen.
• Ashton Carter, former U.S. Secretary of Defense.
• Tim Gill, LGBTQ+ rights advocate and entrepreneur.
• George W. Romney, former Michigan governor, posthumously recognized.
• George Soros, philanthropist and founder of Open Society Foundations.
• George Stevens, Jr., author, playwright, and cultural leader.
• Fannie Lou Hamer, civil rights activist and founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, honored posthumously.
• Bono, lead singer of U2 and global activist.
The ceremony received mixed reactions. Online critics voiced outrage, particularly over Soros’s inclusion, with some claiming the selection was politically charged.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk commented, “A travesty that Biden is giving Soros the Medal of Freedom.”
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) also criticized the awards, describing Biden’s final weeks in office as a disgrace. Johnson accused the president of focusing on partisan figures while leaving a controversial legacy, including pardoning his son and granting clemency to certain individuals.
Correction: Mitt Romney was initially mentioned in error but did not receive the award. It was accepted on behalf of his father, George W. Romney.
