President Joe Biden will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to a group of artists, former government officials, athletes and philanthropists for their contributions to their fields.
Nineteen people will be honored at a ceremony at the White House this Saturday (4), the latest in a series of events that Biden has held in the final weeks of his presidency as he tries to enshrine his legacy.
Among those to receive the medal are former Secretary of State and U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton, retired basketball star Earvin “Magic” Johnson, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, football player Lionel Messi, philanthropist George Soros, publisher longtime fashion star and media executive Anna Wintour and movie star Denzel Washington.
Other laureates
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor, given to individuals who have made “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant social, public, or private endeavors,” according to the House White.
Although the Medal of Freedom is not intended to be partisan, honorees can reflect a president’s political leanings. Others honored Saturday include Spanish chef Josė Andrės, who founded World Central Kitchen, which the White House said has “revolutionized the way food aid reaches communities affected by natural disasters and conflicts around the world.”
Biden on Thursday gave former Representative Liz Cheney and Representative Bennie Thompson the Presidential Citizens Medal for their leadership of the Congressional committee that investigated the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
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The president on Friday (3) awarded the Medal of Honor to seven former US Army soldiers and the Medal of Valor to eight public safety officers for their acts of bravery.
