President Joe Biden Awards Medal of Freedom to 20 Notable Figures in Final Act in Office
President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest U.S. civilian honor, to 20 notable figures on Saturday in one of his final official acts in office. The recipients included former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, chef Jose Andres, actor Michael J. Fox, and conservationist Jane Goodall.
Biden also gave the award to humanitarian and U2 singer Bono, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, “Science Guy” Bill Nye, actor Denzel Washington, basketball star Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Other recipients included Tim Gill, an LGBT activist, David Rubenstein, a philanthropist and co-founder of The Carlyle Group, and George Stevens Jr., a writer and director who founded the American Film Institute.
Additionally, President Biden posthumously awarded the medal to Fannie Lou Hamer, a civil rights activist, Ash Carter, a former secretary of defense, and Robert F. Kennedy, a former attorney general and U.S. senator. George Romney, a businessman and former governor of Michigan and secretary of Housing and Urban Development, also received the award posthumously. His son, Senator Mitt Romney, accepted on his behalf.
Biden praised the group as “truly extraordinary people” who have made significant contributions to shaping the cause and culture of America. The picks reflected some of Biden’s passions, allies, and heroes, and many of the recipients were in attendance to receive the honor.
