US President Joe Biden is set to honour 19 individuals with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, at a White House ceremony on Saturday.
The recipients include Hillary Clinton, billionaire philanthropist George Soros, and other prominent figures from various fields.
The White House described the honourees as people who have made significant contributions to the United States, global peace, or society. “These 19 Americans are great leaders who have made America a better place,” the White House said in a statement.
Hillary Clinton, 77, will be recognised for her decades of public service. The former secretary of state, senator, and first lady made history as the first woman to secure a major party’s nomination for president in 2016.
Clinton’s recognition comes nearly 12 years after her husband, Bill Clinton, received the same honour from former President Obama.
George Soros, 94, is being honoured for his philanthropy through the Open Society Foundations, which has supported democracy, human rights, and social justice worldwide.
Soros has donated billions of dollars to progressive causes and political campaigns but has faced criticism for his funding of certain district attorneys and groups linked to controversial protests.
Other honourees include Bono, lead singer of U2; actor Michael J. Fox; basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson; and football star Lionel Messi. Fashion designer Ralph Lauren, actor Denzel Washington, and Vogue editor Anna Wintour are also on the list.
The list also includes William Sanford Nye, popularly known as “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, and billionaire philanthropist David M. Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group.
Other honourees are celebrity chef José Andrés, founder of the World Central Kitchen, former Defence Secretary Ashton Baldwin Carter, and Tim Gill, a trailblazer for LGBT rights. George W. Romney, the late businessman and former Michigan governor, and George Stevens, Jr, an acclaimed author and playwright, will also receive the prestigious award.
The medal will also be awarded to civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer and Robert F. Kennedy, the former US attorney general and senator.
The ceremony will honour people from diverse fields like science, entertainment, activism, and sports. President Biden is expected to highlight their achievements and contributions to the country and beyond.