President Biden on Saturday awarded 19 individuals with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, honoring a slew of prominent figures in politics, fashion, entertainment and activism.
Among those being honored are chef and philanthropist José Andrés, musician and activist Bono, former Secretary of State and presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, actor Michael J. Fox and entrepreneur and LGBTQ advocate Tim Gill.
Biden will also honor conservationist Jane Goodall, NBA legend Magic Johnson, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, decorated soccer star Lionel Messi, science educator Bill Nye, philanthropist David Rubenstein, Democratic donor and philanthropist George Soros, American Film Institute founder George Stevens Jr., actor Denzel Washington and long-time Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.
The president will also posthumously honor four individuals: Robert F. Kennedy, who served as attorney general; Ashton Carter, who served as Defense secretary; George Romney, who served as governor of Michigan; and Fannie Lou Hamer, a civil rights activist who founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party.
“These nineteen Americans are great leaders who have made America a better place,” the White House said in a press release. “They are great leaders because they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world.”
Biden will present the awards, which are considered the nation’s highest civilian honor, during a White House ceremony.
The president has spent the week doling out awards for civilian and military contributions to the country as his time in office winds down. He awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to multiple recipients on Thursday and the Medal of Honor and Medal of Valor to multiple individuals on Friday.
