Hillary Clinton, George Soros and Denzel Washington will receive the highest US civilian honor
Share and Follow


WASHINGTON (AP) Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Democratic philanthropist George Soros and actor-director Denzel Washington will be awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor on Saturday in a White House ceremony.

President Joe Biden will bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 of the most famous names in politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy and science.

The White House said 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.”

Four medals are to be awarded posthumously. They are going to Fannie Lou Hamer, who founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and laid the groundwork for the 1965 Voting Rights Act; former Attorney General and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy; George W. Romney, who served as both a Michigan governor and secretary of housing and urban development; and Ash Carter, a former secretary of defense.

Kennedy is father to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for health and human services secretary. Romney is the father of former Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, one of Trump’s strongest conservative critics.

Major philanthropists receiving the award include Spanish American chef José Andrés, whose World Central Kitchen charity has become one of the world’s most recognized food relief organizations, and Bono, the frontman for rock band U2 and a social justice activist.

Sports and entertainment stars being recognized include professional soccer player Lionel Messi; retired Los Angeles Lakers basketball legend and businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson; actor Michael J. Fox, who is an outspoken advocate for Parkinson’s disease research and development; and William Sanford Nye, known to generations of students as “Bill Nye the Science Guy.”

Other awardees include conservationist Jane Goodall; longtime Vogue Magazine editor-in-chief Anna Wintour; American fashion designer Ralph Lauren; American Film Institute founder George Stevens Jr.; entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ activist Tim Gill; and David Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group global investment firm.

Last year, Biden bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 19 people, including the late Medgar Evers, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina and actor Michelle Yeoh.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry say firing employees is 'inevitable' as Archewell charity undergoes restructuring

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Restructure Archewell Charity, Address Staff Changes

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have addressed recent staff changes within their…
Betty Reid Soskin, the nation's oldest park ranger, dies at 104

Trailblazing Legacy: Nation’s Oldest Park Ranger, Betty Reid Soskin, Passes Away at 104

Betty Reid Soskin, celebrated for her work as a park ranger with…
Convicted killer kept in police oversight role as city council dismisses concerns over public safety

City Council Faces Backlash for Retaining Convicted Killer in Police Oversight Role Despite Safety Concerns

A convicted murderer from Oregon has been reinstated to Salem’s police oversight…
Doctors tell Americans to brace for brutal, worsening virus season

Experts Warn of Intensified Virus Season Ahead: Americans Urged to Prepare for Severe Health Challenges

The already challenging season of viral infections and “super flu” is predicted…
What food safety experts say they won't order when dining out at restaurants

Top Foods Experts Avoid Ordering at Restaurants: Essential Dining Out Tips for Safety

Experts caution that even foods commonly deemed “healthy” by Americans can carry…
Iran executes man convicted of spying for Israeli intelligence

Iran Executes Convicted Israeli Spy: Unveiling the High-Stakes Espionage Drama

Iranian authorities have executed a man accused of espionage for Israel’s intelligence…
MFTK holds 2nd annual Spartan Showcase in Jacksonville

Discover the Thrills: MFTK’s 2nd Annual Spartan Showcase Captivates Jacksonville

High school athletes from various parts of the South flocked to the…
Exclusive | NY Comptroller DiNapoli accused of massively underinvesting retirement fund by challenger

Challenger Claims NY Comptroller DiNapoli Failing to Maximize Retirement Fund Investments

ALBANY – Veteran State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is under fire for allegedly…