Joe Biden will award, on Saturday January 4, the prestigious “Presidential Medal of Freedom” to 19 personalities, the last promotion of his mandate.
Published on 04/01/2025 12:02
Reading time: 2min
His choice is sometimes fraught with political meaning, a few days before the inauguration of Donald Trump. Joe Biden will award, on Saturday January 4, the prestigious “Presidential Medal of Freedom” to 19 personalities, the last promotion of his mandate. The outgoing American president will decorate with the highest American civilian distinction the singer and activist Bono, the basketball legend Magic Johnson, the high priestess of fashion Anna Wintour, the actors Denzel Washington or Michael J. Fox, the footballer Lionel Messi or again the designer Ralph Lauren. It will also recognize committed personalities such as chef José Andrés, founder of the NGO World Central Kitchen, and primatologist Jane Goodall, a leading voice for environmental protection.
The 82-year-old Democrat also made more political choices for this medal which rewards “individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States” or to the “world peace”. He will thus decorate the financier and philanthropist George Soros, a scarecrow for some Republicans, and the Democrat Hillary Clinton, unsuccessful candidate against Donald Trump in 2016. The first “supported organizations and projects around the world to strengthen democracy, human rights, education and social justice”according to the White House. The second has “made history several times” during her career, notably by becoming the first woman nominated by a major party for an American presidential election.
Posthumously, Joe Biden also chose to distinguish Robert Francis Kennedy, better known as “Bobby” Kennedy or “RFK”. Minister of Justice when his brother “JFK” was president, Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in 1968 while running for the Democratic nomination. “His legacy continues to inspire those committed to justice, equality and public service”commented the American executive.
