Republican lawmakers have criticized President Biden for awarding the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the nation, to billionaire philanthropist George Soros and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The outgoing president presented a total of 19 medals on Saturday, with recipients including figures such as “Vogue” editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, actor Denzel Washington, chef José Andrés, scientist Bill Nye, soccer player Lionel Messi, and basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, among others.
During the ceremony, President Biden praised the recipients, stating, “As cultural icons, defiant statements, dignified statements, humanitarians, rock stars, sports stars, you feed the hungry, you give hope to those who are hurting, and you craft the signs and sounds of our movements and our memories. You know, it’s amazing.”
However, the decision to honor Soros, a well-known Democratic supporter, and Clinton, a former presidential candidate, sparked backlash from GOP members in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) criticized the awards, suggesting that political donations may have influenced the choices, stating, “Apparently, all it takes to receive the highest civilian honor from President Biden is to donate millions to him and his family.”
Soros, a Hungarian-American of Jewish descent, has faced criticism from conservative circles in the past. Representative Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) emphasized his disapproval of the selections, contrasting them with an alternative choice, stating, “Joe Biden gave the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hillary Clinton and George Soros instead of Daniel Penny. Says all you need to know. Counting down to January 20th.”
Hillary Clinton, who served as Secretary of State under President Obama and ran for president in 2016, received a standing ovation at the ceremony. Representative Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) described the awards as a “joke” on social media, expressing his dissatisfaction with the choices.
In early 2024, the Fund for Policy Reform, a non-profit organization founded and funded by Soros, made a substantial donation of $60 million to the liberal Super PAC, Democracy PAC, supporting Democratic candidates during the election cycle, as reported in Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.
Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) condemned the decision to honor Soros, linking it to broader criticisms of Democratic policies on crime, stating, “Giving Soros the Medal of Freedom is outrageous but not surprising. Democratic politicians support criminals more than cops. They want violent criminals back on the streets. If you want less crime: vote Republican.”
The ceremony and the subsequent criticism reflect ongoing political divisions in the United States, with the Medal of Freedom awards becoming a point of contention between Democrats and Republicans. Both sides continue to express strong opinions on the recipients and the motivations behind the selections.
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