A choice sometimes full of meaning a few days before the inauguration of Donald Trump. Joe Biden will award this Saturday the prestigious “Presidential Medal of Freedom” to a series of committed personalities including the Irish singer and activist Bono, the chef José Andrés, founder of the NGO World Central Kitchen, seven members of which were killed by the Israeli army, and primatologist Jane Goodall, a leading voice for environmental protection.
Among the recipients are also the basketball legend Magic Johnson, the high priestess of fashion Anna Wintour, the actors Denzel Washington and Michael J. Fox, the footballer Lionel Messi, the fashion designer Ralph Lauren…
George Soros, scarecrow for some of the Republicans
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 “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 a White House statement.
The second has “made history on several occasions” during her career, notably by becoming the first woman nominated by a major party for an American presidential election.
The late Bobby Kennedy, John’s brother, distinguished
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. He is the father of Robert Kennedy Jr or “RFK Jr”, a vaccine skeptic chosen by Donald Trump to be his next Minister of Health.
These appointments illustrate Joe Biden’s desire to leave his mark, at least symbolically, before the return to the White House of his Republican rival, which is a huge disavowal for him.
Trump’s sworn enemy Liz Cheney decorated
“President Biden believes that great personalities always keep the faith, ensure that everyone has a chance and put righteousness above all else,” said the White House in the press release presenting the list of 19 personalities chosen for this last promotion of the Democrat’s mandate.
Joe Biden presented another decoration on Thursday to a sworn enemy of Donald Trump, former Republican elected official Liz Cheney, who sat on a parliamentary commission investigating the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 by supporters of the former and now future president.
Video“I’m proud to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris”: Liz Cheney, the Republican who supports a Democrat
The latter was indignant on Friday, describing the daughter of former vice-president Dick Cheney as “completely corrupt”, and judging, on his Truth Social platform, that “Biden had only rewarded her because she hated Trump.”
