Joe Biden awarded the prestigious ‘Presidential Medal of Freedom’ on Saturday to a series of personalities, whose choice is sometimes fraught with political meaning a few days before the inauguration of Donald Trump.
During a ceremony at the White House, the outgoing US president passed America’s highest civilian honor around the necks of singer and activist Bono, basketball legend Magic Johnson, fashion high priestess Anna Wintour, actors Denzel Washington or Michael J. Fox, footballer Lionel Messi, or fashion designer Ralph Lauren…
It also distinguished committed personalities such as chef José Andrés, founder of the NGO World Central Kitchen, and primatologist Jane Goodall, a leading voice for environmental protection.
“Truly extraordinary people who have given their precious time to shaping the culture and cause of America,” praised the president.
Among the people distinguished by the 82-year-old Democrat are also more political choices.
The financier and philanthropist George Soros, a scarecrow for some of the Republicans, received the prestigious medal, collected on Saturday by his son Alexandre.
A move that Trump strongman and billionaire Elon Musk decried, calling it a ‘parody’.
Democrat Hillary Clinton, unsuccessful candidate against Donald Trump in 2016, was also honored, to loud applause, for having ‘made history on several occasions’ during her career, notably by becoming the first woman invested by a major party for an American presidential election.
Lionel Messi, Argentine football player and Inter Miami striker, was also invited to receive the prestigious medal, but did not attend the ceremony.
Bobby Kennedy
Joe Biden also chose to distinguish, posthumously, the politician George Romney, father of Republican Senator Mitt Romney, as well as Robert Francis Kennedy, better known as ‘Bobby’ Kennedy or ‘RFK’.
Justice Minister 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 US 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.
“President Biden believes that great people always keep the faith, ensure that everyone has a chance, and put righteousness above all else,” the White House said in the press release presenting the list of 19 personalities chosen for this latest 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.
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’.
/ATS
