President Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 recipients today. The award is the highest civilian honor and the event in the East Room today with only 16 days left in Biden’s presidency was tinged with nostalgia. Former President Bill Clinton, Vice President Harris and of course the current President were all in attendance.
President Biden’s list included the actor Denzel Washington, Magic Johnson, U2 lead singer Bono and a posthumous honor to civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer. The eclectic list of nineteen individuals honored by Biden “made America and the world a better place” and were “great leaders because they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world” as defined in a statement by The White House.
The award also goes to friends and political donors who aren’t eligible for high military honors but have been loyal to the President or the party in power.
📸 Photos by Lauren Victoria Burke
Below: Earvin “Magic” Johnson, who recently helped saved the Washington Commander fans of the leadership of former team owner Dan Snyder, is seen receiving the Medal of Freedom on Jan. 4, 2025 at The White House.
Below: Chef José Andrés, the founder of World Central Kitchen, points to heaven as he receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom. On April 1, 2024, seven World Central Kitchen workers were killed in Gaza by Israeli military airstrikes.
Above: Jane Goodall, Bono, Anna Wintour and Gregory Soros, who was accepting the award for his father, George Soros, were among the honorees.
Other awardees were Hillary Clinton, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, Bill Nye (the Science Guy), actor Michael J. Fox, director George Stevens, Jr., philanthropist David Rubenstein, entrepreneur Tim Gill, and George Romney. His son, recently retired U.S. Senator Mitt Romney, accepted the award on behalf of his late father. Legendary soccer player Lionel Messi was announced as an awardee but did not attend.
President Barack Obama has given out the most Medals of Freedom (118) followed by Lyndon Johnson (89) and Ronald Reagan (86).
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