On January 4th, U.S. President Biden hosted the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarding ceremony at the White House, bestowing this highest civilian honor on 19 distinguished individuals from politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights, and science. However, some of the awardees on the list sparked widespread controversy.
In his awarding speech, Biden stated, "This is my last honor as President to award the Medal of Freedom to a group of extraordinary people, the highest honor our nation can give to civilians." The recipients included former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, billionaire George Soros, and other renowned figures. Additionally, four individuals were posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom, including former Michigan Governor George Romney and former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.
Notably, Argentine soccer player Messi received the medal but was unable to attend the ceremony due to scheduling conflicts. This honor was acknowledged through a statement issued by his agent.
Despite this, the inclusion of Hillary and Soros in the award list became a focal point of controversy. Republican figures and conservative media expressed strong dissatisfaction. Former Trump advisor Bannon remarked, "Soros, who tries to destroy the country, is being given the highest civilian honor, which is outrageous and should be revoked." Fox News host Duffy sarcastically added, "Soros deserves an antisocial personality medal."
Republican Senator Scott bluntly stated on social media, "Biden's honors seem to depend on donation amounts." Congressman Clyde called it "a joke." Another senator, Cotton, commented, "Awarding Soros the Medal of Freedom is shocking and shows more support for criminals than the police by the Democrats."
According to an analysis by The New York Times, Biden's move aims to convey political signals through the awardees, underscoring his stance against Trumpism. The medal awarded to Soros is seen as a recognition of the support from this major Democratic donor and also as a contrast to Trump's billionaire allies.
This awarding ceremony not only serves as a summation of President Biden's term but also becomes a new flashpoint in the political confrontation between America's two parties. The strong reaction and controversy from conservatives are likely to remain a focus of public discussion.
