President Joe Biden will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 distinguished individuals on Saturday, recognising their remarkable contributions to society.
The Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the United States, will be bestowed on icons from various fields, including entertainment, sports, politics, and activism.
According to AFP, this year’s honourees include football legend Lionel Messi, actor Denzel Washington, singer and activist Bono, basketball great Earvin “Magic” Johnson, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, and actor Michael J. Fox.
Anna Wintour, the renowned fashion editor, will also receive the honour alongside chef José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen, and celebrated primatologist Jane Goodall.
“The honourees are great leaders because they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world,” the White House said in a statement.
Among the recipients with political ties are Hillary Clinton, former Secretary of State and the first woman to secure a major party nomination for U.S. presidency, and billionaire philanthropist George Soros.
Clinton was lauded for her decades of public service, while Soros was recognised for his global efforts in promoting democracy, human rights, and education.
The late Robert Francis Kennedy, famously known as “Bobby” Kennedy, will be posthumously awarded.
A former U.S. Attorney General and advocate for justice, RFK was assassinated in 1968 during his presidential campaign.
President Biden praised his enduring legacy, saying, “His legacy continues to inspire those committed to justice, equality, and public service.”
On Thursday, Biden also presented the Presidential Citizens Medal to Liz Cheney, a former Republican congresswoman who served on the committee investigating the January 6 Capitol insurrection.
The award sparked criticism from former President Donald Trump, who accused Biden of rewarding Cheney solely for her opposition to him.
