Hillary Clinton, Messi, Soros To Be Awarded Highest US Civilian Honour, Social Media Expresses Displeasure

Last Updated:January 04, 2025, 21:43 IST

The prestigious award is being bestowed to the individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the Nation's highest civilian honour, would be presented to the awardees at a White House ceremony by Biden Saturday afternoon. (File)

Unites States former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, controversial investor George Soros, ace footballer Lionel Messi, fashion designer Ralph Lauren and several others would be awarded the US’ highest civilian honour.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the Nation’s highest civilian honour, would be presented to the 19 awardees at a White House ceremony by President Joe Biden on Saturday afternoon (according to US Time).

The prestigious award is being bestowed to the individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States.

The honourees “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.

Full List Of Honourees

Four medals are to be awarded posthumously. They are going to Fannie Lou Hamer, who founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and laid the groundwork for the 1965 Voting Rights Act; former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy; George W. Romney, who served as both a Michigan governor and secretary of housing and urban development; and Ash Carter, the former secretary of defense.

Row Over Medal To Clinton, Soros

The netizens in the US expressed their anger on the decision to give the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Clinton and Soros.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk led the furious outcry, labeling the decision to award Soros the honour as “a travesty." Musk also shared a video of himself on a podcast where he had said that he believed that Soros “fundamentally hates humanity."

The 94-year-old George Soros in the recent past has spoken openly against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the recently concluded Winter Session of Parliament, the BJP raised the issue of alleged “links" of Congress leaders with Soros-backed outfits involved in “anti-India" activities, triggering vociferous protests from the opposition.

Congress, however, trashed these allegations In 2020, Soros slammed the Modi government while addressing an event at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, saying nationalism was making headway and the “biggest setback" was seen in India.

Some also raised their concern on awarding Clinton, whose tenure as Secretary of State came in for much criticism over her handling of the war in Libya and the attack on United States government facilities in Libya, as reported by Fox News.

Online commentator Blake Habyan wrote, “What a joke — these people have done the exact opposite of what the award is intended for," while Natalie F Danelishen wrote that the news could be a Babylon Bee story given how unbelievable it is.

“Seriously, two of the worst people on earth," she wrote.

Last year, Biden bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on 19 people, including the late Medgar Evers, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina and actor Michelle Yeoh.

(With inputs from agencies)

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

News world Hillary Clinton, Messi, Soros To Be Awarded Highest US Civilian Honour, Social Media Expresses Displeasure