By Michael D. Shear and Zach Montague
With only 16 days remaining in a political career extending over half a century, President Joe Biden awarded one of the nation’s utmost honors to key figures of the political, financial, and celebrity classes he has long belonged to.
President-elect Donald Trump is set to take over from Biden on Jan. 20, intent on persisting with his campaign against what he terms “the swamp.” In 2016, Trump pledged to combat establishment individuals from both parties whom he accused of “benefiting from government while the populace has shouldered the burden.”
On Saturday, however, Biden presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 18 individuals, including some notable figures of the old establishment that Trump aims to dismantle. In doing so, the 82-year-old president is delivering a clear message of endorsement for a democratic system he asserts is under threat from Trump’s reelection.
“Let’s not forget, our sacred mission persists, and as my mother would say, to continue, we must maintain our faith,” he stated to the audience in the East Room at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Among those honored were Hillary Clinton, the former first lady, senator, and secretary of state whom Trump once threatened to imprison, receiving a standing ovation on Saturday; Robert F. Kennedy, the slain senator whose son has aligned with Trump; and George Romney, the late father of former Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who consistently opposed Trump’s ideologies and actions. The younger Romney accepted the award on Saturday, while Kennedy’s medal was received by his daughter, Kerry.
As has been customary with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Biden also acknowledged some of his party’s most significant fundraisers, including the prominent Democratic donor — George Soros, a billionaire liberal activist portrayed by Republicans as the party’s malevolent puppeteer.
Included among the recipients was media executive and cultural icon Anna Wintour, who featured first lady Jill Biden on the cover of Vogue twice in the last four years, while ignoring Melania Trump during her husband’s presidency. Wintour is a leading fundraiser in the fashion sector, having organized events for Biden’s reelection efforts in London and Paris last year.
Biden also honored artists, musicians, athletes, philanthropists, and others who have enriched society, including singer Bono, actor Michael J. Fox, basketball icon Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and investor David M. Rubenstein.
The 19th recipient of the award — soccer superstar Lionel Messi — was absent from the ceremony and did not send a representative due to a scheduling conflict, according to the White House.
“As cultural icons, honorable statesmen, humanitarians, rock stars, and sports icons, you nourish the needy, inspire hope among the suffering, and shape the signs and sounds of our movements and memories,” Biden remarked.
Every modern president has bestowed the medal upon those they deem worthy, often as they exit the political stage for good and occasionally with a slant in ideology. Historians view this as a final proclamation from the presidential platform, signaling to Americans: This is who we should admire and aspire to emulate.
Following Trump’s 2016 victory, President Barack Obama awarded the medal to NBA legend Michael Jordan, actors Tom Hanks and Robert De Niro, among others. Earlier, Obama had also awarded the medal to Biden, who served as his vice president.
Four years later, as Trump was concluding his term, he honored two professional golfers, an Olympic athlete, and Congress members Devin Nunes of California and Jim Jordan of Ohio, two of his staunchest supporters in Congress.
However, Biden’s employment of presidential privilege seemed more pointed than that of some of his predecessors.
His choice to award the medal posthumously to Kennedy could be interpreted as a challenge to Kennedy’s son, a member of what may be the most renowned Democratic family in the country. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to endorse Trump during the campaign, amid criticism from the majority of his family, was pivotal in Trump selecting him to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
The White House noted the elder Romney, a Republican, had been chair and president of American Motors Corp. and later served as Michigan’s governor and as secretary of housing and urban development. The younger Romney is the only Republican to have voted twice to convict Trump after his two impeachments.
The award to the elder Romney reflects Biden’s earlier decision this week to present the Presidential Citizens Medal, a top civilian honor, to Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., known for her role in holding Trump accountable for his actions during the Capitol assault on Jan. 6, 2021.
Both awards from a Democratic president to notable Republicans aim to provide Biden with a public relations boost that has primarily been associated with Trump since the election.
Conversely, the same cannot be asserted for Soros. By presenting the medal to him, Biden acknowledges the significance of the investor and philanthropist to the Democratic Party. This is something that numerous members of Biden’s party have been hesitant to do, fearing Trump and other Republicans would leverage this as proof of the control they allege he wields.
Yet, Biden appears undeterred by that concern. Following weeks in which Trump has showcased Elon Musk, the wealthiest individual globally, as part of his inner circle, Biden seemed intent on conveying: We have our billionaires as well.
Soros has invested hundreds of millions into progressive politics since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United verdict, which released a flood of money into politics from corporations and the affluent individuals at their helm. Soros and his family notably supported Biden right after his underwhelming debate performance last year.
