U.S. President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 individuals on Saturday, January 4, 2025. This prestigious honor, the highest civilian award in the U.S., was bestowed on a diverse group of entertainers, athletes, activists, and diplomats.
Among the recipients were former First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who made history through her decades of public service and was the first woman nominated for president by a major political party. Other honorees include actors Michael J. Fox and Denzel Washington, U2’s Bono, Inter Miami soccer star Lionel Messi, and philanthropist George Soros.
The award was also presented posthumously to former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer, former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, and former Michigan Governor George W. Romney.
Additional recipients include renowned ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, retired NBA legend Magic Johnson, World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés, fashion icon Ralph Lauren, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, science educator Bill Nye “The Science Guy,” LGBTQ activist Tim Gill, philanthropist David Rubenstein, and American Film Institute founder George Stevens Jr.
Several of the awardees have been longtime supporters of Biden and the Democratic Party.
During the ceremony, Biden shared remarks, expressing, “Together, you leave an incredible mark— and I mean this sincerely—this group leaves an incredible mark on our country.”
The Presidential Medal of Freedom was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the United States’ prosperity, values, security, world peace, or other significant societal endeavors.
