Finance
On Sunday, President Joe Biden presented the highest civilian award in the United States to up to 19 individuals for their achievements to America and the globe. The 19 individuals include former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, sports sensation Lionel Messi, controversial philanthropist George Soros, Irish singer-songwriter Bono, actor Michael J Fox, and Denzel Washington.
The US government bestows the Presidential Medal of Freedom on persons who have contributed to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, international peace, or other major societal, public, or private endeavors.
Spanish-American chef Jose Andres, Irish singer-songwriter and activist Bono, Canadian-American activist and retired actor Michael J Fox, entrepreneur and LGBTQ rights campaigner Tim Gill, and iconic retired basketball player Earvin “Magic” Johnson all won the prize.
Meanwhile, owing to a scheduling conflict, Argentine football sensation Messi was unable to attend the White House in person to accept the honor from the US president.
Posthumous awards were given to Ashton Carter, the 25th Secretary of Defense, Robert Francis Kennedy, who was honored as an Attorney General who passionately opposed racial segregation, Fannie Lou Hamer, who altered the movement for racial justice in America, and George W Romney, a businessman. The medals were accepted by their family members.
Meanwhile, many people have expressed their opposition to George Soros’s prize. His son, Alex Soros, accepted the award on behalf of George Soros.
However, Make America Great Again (MAGA) fans and Republican officials have chastised Biden for presenting the prize to Soros. Elon Musk said that Biden giving Soros the Medal of Freedom is a “travesty”.
Other recipients include conservationist Jane Goodall, longtime Vogue Magazine editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, American fashion designer Ralph Lauren, American Film Institute founder George Stevens Jr., entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ activist Tim Gill, scientist Bill Nye, and David Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group global investment firm.
