President Biden is awarding the Medal of Freedom to 19 people, including civil rights icons such as the late Fannie Lou Hamer and prominent political leaders such as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and billionaire Democratic fundraiser George Soros. He's also honoring actors and athletes, including Michael J. Fox, Denzel Washington as well as Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi and Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the retired basketball star who led the Los Angeles Lakers to five championships.
"These nineteen Americans are great leaders who have 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," the White House said in a statement. Biden will also posthumously grant the medal to former U.
S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, the father of Robert F.
Kennedy Jr., who President-elect Trump has nominated to be his secretary of Health and Human Services; and former Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, as well as George W. Romney, who served as the chairman of the American Motors Corp.
before becoming Michigan governor and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He is also the father of Utah Sen. Mitt Romney.
Additional recipients include: José Andrés – the renowned chef who brought food aid around the world through his World Central Kitchen. Bono – the frontman for legendary rock band U2 and activist against AIDS and poverty. Tim Gill – the entrepreneur whose wor.