President Joe Biden to Award Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 Notable Recipients
President Joe Biden will bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to 19 individuals on Saturday in a White House ceremony. The recipients have made “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.”
Among the awardees are former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, philanthropist George Soros, and actor-director Denzel Washington. Four medals will be awarded posthumously to Fannie Lou Hamer, Robert F. Kennedy, George W. Romney, and Ash Carter.
Other notable recipients include major philanthropists José Andrés and Bono, sports stars Lionel Messi and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and entertainment stars Michael J. Fox and William Sanford Nye. Conservationist Jane Goodall, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, and entrepreneur Tim Gill are also being recognized.
The ceremony will honor the recipients’ achievements in politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and science. Last year, Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 individuals, including the late Medgar Evers, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, and actor Michelle Yeoh.