Away from music, Bono has been an activist for a number of causes from campaigning for debt relief around the world to raising awareness for AIDS in Africa. Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images U2 frontman Bono has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by US president Joe Biden. Away from music, Bono has been an activist for a number of causes from campaigning for debt relief around the world to raising awareness for AIDS in Africa.
Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, Democratic philanthropist George Soros and actor-director Denzel Washington will also be awarded the US’ highest civilian honour on Saturday in a White House ceremony. President Joe Biden will bestow the presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 of the most famous names in politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy and science. The White House said the recipients have made “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors”.
Bono, who is the first Irish person to receive the medal since Mary Robinson in 2009, is one of 19 people who will receive the honour from president Biden in a ceremony at the White House on Saturday. The list also includes soccer star Lionel Messi, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, actors Michael J Fox and the retired basketball legend Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson. In 2017, president Biden himself received the Medal of Freedom from president Barack Obama, .
