President Biden will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, to former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, Democratic billionaire George Soros and several others at a White House ceremony on Saturday. .
The White House said that Mr. Clinton, Mr. Soros, and the other 17 recipients of the prestigious award “have contributed to America's prosperity, values, security, world peace, or other important social, public or private causes.” He is an individual who has made an exemplary contribution to the effort.” ”
“President Biden believes that great leaders uphold their beliefs, give everyone a fair chance, and prioritize civility above all else,” the White House said in a statement. “These 19 Americans are great leaders who made America a better place. They are great leaders because they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world.”
Soros, 94, is one of the Democratic Party's most prolific fundraisers in recent history.
The Hungarian-born hedge fund billionaire reportedly donated more than $175 million to Democrats during the 2022 midterm elections. Federal Election Commission Records.
Records show Soros funneled another $60 million to House and Senate Democrats and other left-wing causes in 2024 through his Democracy PAC.
Soros has transferred tens of billions of dollars of his personal net worth to the Open Society Foundations, which funds numerous progressive projects around the world, and is also in the race to install far-left district attorneys in major American cities. is also making a large investment. .
Lawmakers supported by Mr. Soros, such as Manhattan's Alvin Bragg and Philadelphia's Larry Krasner, have been criticized by Republicans for prioritizing criminal justice reform over prosecuting criminals.
The left-wing investor is also accused of funneling tens of millions of dollars to groups supporting anti-Israel protesters on college campuses.
The White House has described Soros as “a philanthropist who founded the Open Society Foundations 40 years ago” and “through the foundation's network…supports organizations and projects around the world that strengthen democracy, human rights, education, and social justice.” I've done it,'' he explained.
Clinton, 77, will be the first recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom nearly 12 years after her husband, former President Bill Clinton, was awarded the Medal of Freedom by former President Barack Obama.
The White House said the former first lady, secretary of state and New York state senator “made history multiple times over her decades in public service.”
In 2016, Clinton made history by becoming the first woman to be nominated by a major US political party for president.
Her bid to become the first female president of the United States failed when President-elect Donald Trump defeated her in the 2016 campaign.
Clinton was investigated by the FBI for using a private email server during the Obama administration, but was not charged with any crime.
Former FBI Director James Comey said at the end of the investigation that Secretary Clinton and her colleagues were “extremely careless in their handling of highly sensitive classified information,” but the FBI said that “Secretary Clinton and her colleagues were not responsible for any criminal activity.” We found no clear evidence that this was done.” The purpose is to violate laws governing the handling of confidential information. ”
Biden, 82, will also award medals to Hollywood A-listers, superstar athletes and American cultural icons at Saturday's ceremony.
- Bono, frontman of rock band U2
- Michael J. Fox, “Back to the Future” star
- Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers Legend
- Ralph Lauren, visionary fashion designer
- Lionel Messi, MLS star and captain of the World Cup-winning Argentina soccer team
- Denzel Washington, Academy Award-winning actor
- Anna Wintour, Vogue Editor-in-Chief
- William Sanford Nye, television host known as “Bill Nye the Science Guy”
- Murdered former New York senator and US attorney general Robert Francis Kennedy
- Jane Goodall, famous primatologist and anthropologist
- David M. Rubenstein, Billionaire Co-Founder of Carly Group
- José Andrés, celebrity chef and founder of the charity World Central Kitchen
- Former Secretary of Defense Ashton Baldwin Carter
- Tim Gill, entrepreneur who worked to advance LGBT rights
- The late George W. Romney, businessman and former governor of Michigan
- George Stevens Jr., author and playwright
- Fannie Lou Hamer, late civil rights leader and founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party
