With two weeks left in his administration, President Joe Biden bestowed the highest American civilian honor to some big names in politics, Hollywood and professional sports. He awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to a total of 19 people in the east room of the White House on Saturday, Jan. 4.
Former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton received the award.
Actors Denzel Washington and Michael J. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and advocates for research, also received the Medal of Freedom.
Basketball star turned businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson was also a recipient.
Biden called them “truly extraordinary people who gave their sacred effort to shape the culture and cause of America.”
The awards were not without controversy.
Biden awarded a Medal of Freedom to Jewish billionaire George Soros. The 94-year-old Hungarian survived the Holocaust. Soros’ son accepted the medal on his behalf.
Many conservatives have often criticized Soros for being a mega-donor to liberal causes. X owner Elon Musk called the award to George Soros “a travesty.”
The president also gave out four medals, posthumously. They went to former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, former Michigan Gov. George Romney, American activist Fannie Lou Hamer and former U.S. Attorney General Robert Francis Kennedy.
