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Who Are the 19 Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

The honorees include high-profile figures like Hillary Clinton, the singer Bono, the philanthropist and donor George Soros, and Lionel Messi.

By Zach Montague

Reporting from Washington

Jan. 4, 2025, 5:01 a.m. ET

President Biden is expected to recognize an expansive cast of public figures, celebrities and cultural luminaries on Saturday with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, covering a list of household names in his final ceremony as president.

The 19 honorees include some of the Democratic Party’s best-known leaders and boosters: Hillary Clinton, the philanthropist and major Democratic donor George Soros, and Robert F. Kennedy, who will be given the recognition posthumously.

The list Mr. Biden drew up also included famous figures in sports, entertainment, fashion and film. Here are each of the honorees.

José Andrés

Aside from his fame as a celebrity chef, Mr. Andrés’s philanthropy work became a highly visible element of the war in Gaza during Mr. Biden’s presidency, as his aid group, World Central Kitchen, assumed a dangerous role bringing food into the region after the war displaced the majority of its 2.2 million residents. Last year, seven people working for World Central Kitchen were killed by Israeli airstrikes while working in Gaza, drawing attention to the risk of famine during the war and the dangers facing aid workers.

Bono

The Irish singer-songwriter, whose band, U2, the president has described as a “bridge between Ireland and America,” has enjoyed a close friendship with Mr. Biden during his tenure. Mr. Biden personally introduced the band at the 2022 Kennedy Center Honors and hosted Bono at his 2023 State of the Union address.

Ashton B. Carter (posthumous)

Mr. Carter, a Rhodes scholar and trained physicist, served as defense secretary under President Barack Obama. He assumed the post after a lengthy Pentagon career and used his influence as defense secretary to expand military eligibility for women and transgender service members. He died at age 68 in 2022.

Hillary Clinton

As vice president, Mr. Biden served alongside Mrs. Clinton under Mr. Obama after competing with her for the presidential nomination.

Michael J. Fox

Mr. Fox is known for roles in the film “Back to the Future” and the 1980s sitcom “Family Ties.” He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 29 and has become a leading voice for research on the disease through his foundation.

Tim Gill

After founding the tech company Quark, which produced novel layout and design software through the 1980s and ’90s, Mr. Gill sold his stake to concentrate on charity work aimed at L.G.B.T.Q. rights and advocacy. His foundation has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in campaigns to shift policy on issues such as marriage equality and bullying in schools.

Jane Goodall

The scientist and activist, who turned 90 this year, is known for her breakthrough work on the study of primates and human evolution.

Fannie Lou Hamer (posthumous)

Ms. Hamer, a civil rights activist and the co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, fought for equal representation in politics after being born into sharecropping in the Jim Crow era. She died at age 60 in 1977.

Earvin Johnson

A five-time N.B.A. champion and basketball star known as “Magic,” Mr. Johnson became an influential voice off the court after publicly announcing an H.I.V. diagnosis in the early ’90s and helping to destigmatize living with the virus. He was also a close supporter of Mr. Biden during his presidential campaign, stumping for the president in Michigan.

Robert F. Kennedy (posthumous)

Robert F. Kennedy had a storied career in Democratic politics as a senator and the U.S. attorney general before his assassination in 1968. His son Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has embraced the G.O.P. and President-elect Donald J. Trump, and is Mr. Trump’s pick to be health secretary.

Ralph Lauren

The 85-year-old, whose clothes have been a favorite of Jill Biden’s throughout her time as first lady, is the first fashion designer to receive the Medal of Freedom.

Lionel Messi

The Argentine soccer superstar was included on the list just under two years after retiring from the heights of international soccer to play for Inter Miami. His presence in the American league has brought a surge of viewership and revenue to the club.

Bill Nye

Implanted in the psyche of millions of children through his role as the host of “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” Mr. Nye re-emerged after the show ended in 1999 as a popular personality on TikTok and an advocate for science and climate policy.

George W. Romney (posthumous)

A former chairman of the American Motors Corporation, Mr. Romney, a Republican, later served as a three-term governor of Michigan and as President Richard M. Nixon’s housing secretary. As governor, he embraced a range of progressive policy stances including supporting civil rights initiatives and opposing the war in Vietnam. He died at age 88 in 1995.

David M. Rubenstein

The billionaire co-founder of the Carlyle Group has donated to fund work on some of the best-known spaces around Washington, including the Washington Monument and the National Zoo.

George Soros

An ally of Mr. Biden and a fierce supporter of liberal causes, Mr. Soros is among several prominent Democratic figures to receive the award during Mr. Biden’s presidency. A billionaire and Democratic megadonor, Mr. Soros has become a polarizing figure in American politics, often vilified by conservative commentators.

George Stevens Jr.

Mr. Stevens is a filmmaker, a producer and the founder of the American Film Institute and the Kennedy Center Honors. His writing and producing credits include the 1998 film “The Thin Red Line” and a play about the life of Thurgood Marshall. Outside of film and the stage, his work has focused on preserving American cinematic heritage.

Denzel Washington

An acclaimed actor and the national spokesman for Boys & Girls Clubs of America for over 30 years, Mr. Washington was selected by Mr. Biden to receive the award in 2022 but missed the ceremony after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Anna Wintour

Ms. Wintour is the editor in chief of Vogue, a position she has held since 1988. A key fund-raiser at the center of Democratic celebrity circles, she has also served as the co-chairwoman of the annual Met Gala.

Zach Montague is a Times reporter covering the U.S. Department of Education, the White House and federal courts. More about Zach Montague

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5658976&forum_id=2).#48516980)

Ash Carter was the man who testified under oath before Congress that women were as fit for combat as men.

xoxo already knows about Hillary.

Soros's soft on crime successes have led to the deaths of many black people.

Lionel Messi is awesome but for fucks sake why does he get our highest medal?

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Ralph Lauren

The 85-year-old, whose clothes have been a favorite of Jill Biden’s throughout her time as first lady, is the first fashion designer to receive the Medal of Freedom.

[Ralph Lifshitz]

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5658976&forum_id=2).#48517305)

but Obama has the most bs awards. Ellen Degeneres? c'mon, Jack.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5658976&forum_id=2).#48517482)

also:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJXqnYCWW7Y

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5658976&forum_id=2).#48518884)

So just to be clear, Jewish Pumo, you think these are all worthy recipients who have done amazing things in the service of America and deserve this award on the merits -- and they just ALSO happen to be liberal. Right?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5658976&forum_id=2).#48518752)

https://x.com/William_E_Wolfe/status/1875641421027537044

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5658976&forum_id=2).#48518734)

Atticus - James Atticus Bowden

@jatticusbowden

·

49m

Her Participation Award after not getting elected POTUS

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5658976&forum_id=2).#48518760)

2025: Each of the Koch Brothers, John Rocker, Kevin Sorbo, Mike Lindell, Sheldon Adelson, Viktor Orban, Augusto Pinochet, Sam Hyde, James Watson, Doug Mackey, Diamond and Silk, Ted Nugent, Art Bell

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5658976&forum_id=2).#48518867)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14250317/Lionel-Messi-Joe-Biden-White-House-Presidential-Medal-Freedom.html

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5658976&forum_id=2).#48519226)

https://youtu.be/iMTZfJrR3ns?t=83

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5658976&forum_id=2).#48519228)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5658976&forum_id=2).#48519439)

https://x.com/JackPosobiec/status/1875621105601540583

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5658976&forum_id=2).#48520177)

they all need to be gassed, all of them

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5658976&forum_id=2).#48520612)

"Abedin, 47, and Soros, 38, are both familiar names to anyone who follows politics and business."

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5658976&forum_id=2).#48520638)