Hillary Clinton, George Soros and Denzel Washington will receive the highest US civilian honor

FATIMA HUSSEIN

January 04, 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Democratic philanthropist George Soros and actor-director Denzel Washington will be awarded the nation's highest civilian honor 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."

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.

Kennedy is father to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for health and human services secretary. Romney is the father of former Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, one of Trump's strongest conservative critics.

Major philanthropists receiving the award include Spanish American chef José Andrés, whose World Central Kitchen charity has become one of the world's most recognized food relief organizations, and Bono, the frontman for rock band U2 and a social justice activist.

Sports and entertainment stars being recognized include professional soccer player Lionel Messi; retired Los Angeles Lakers basketball legend and businessman Earvin "Magic" Johnson; actor Michael J. Fox, who is an outspoken advocate for Parkinson's disease research and development; and William Sanford Nye, known to generations of students as "Bill Nye the Science Guy."

Other awardees include conservationist Jane Goodall; longtime Vogue Magazine editor-in-chief Anna Wintour; American fashion designer Ralph Lauren; American Film Institute founder George Stevens Jr.; entrepreneur and LGBTQ+ activist Tim Gill; and David Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group global investment firm.

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.

Recommended

Tariff-Driven Cash Payouts, Right Off Your Smart Phone? - Ad

How to Hack a $1.3T Market - Ad

FDA Submission Expected This Summer - Invest Before It Happens - Ad

A majority of Americans now believes that the newly passed Republican tax and spending bill primarily favors the wealthy.

Gen X Voters Boost Donald Trump's Approval Rating — Here's What's Driving It

President Trump's approval rating has surged by 23 points among Generation X voters.

Is Elon's Empire Crumbling?

Is Elon's Empire Crumbling? - Ad

Jeff Brown - the legend who called Tesla and Nvidia early - says Elon is about to launch a $25T AI revolution. This isn't another chatbot. It's real-world AI that could 14X the impact of ChatGPT. But after July 23rd, it may be too late.

Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Offers Seniors A $6,000 'Bonus' Tax Deduction: Here's How You Qualify For The Benefit

Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill offers a $6,000 senior bonus deduction from 2025-28. Couples can save $12,000. Retirees with incomes up to $75,000 benefit most.

Dogecoin Set To Soar 2,600% and Hit $1 Trillion Market Cap, Says This Crypto Analyst

A crypto analyst predicts a staggering 2,600% surge for Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE), which would catapult its market cap to $1 trillion.

Elon's Greatest Invention... Hidden in South Memphis?

Elon's Greatest Invention... Hidden in South Memphis? - Ad

In South Memphis, I uncovered what could be Elon Musk's biggest invention yet. It's so secretive, rivals are flying drones to spy on it. If you're serious about investing in AI, now's the time to see what's really going on inside those walls.

What to know about buying electric vehicles after the federal tax incentives end

The massive tax and spending cut bill that ends federal tax incentives for electric vehicles.

Trump's Megabill Brings Tax Breaks for the Wealthy and Welfare Cuts — Here's How Your Income Taxes Could Change

President Trump signed his massive spending and social policy bill into law during an Independence Day event at the White House on Friday.

Elon's New Device Could Launch Biggest IPO of the Decade

Elon's New Device Could Launch Biggest IPO of the Decade - Ad

Elon Musk's new device is being called a "game-changer"-and even the White House is using this tech. Jeff Brown says it could launch Musk's next trillion-dollar company and make early investors rich. You can claim a stake now for as little as $500.

Li Auto's Strong Q2 Deliveries Mask June's Steep Decline

Li Auto (LI) reported 36,279 vehicles delivered in June 2025, down 24.1% YoY. Q2 saw a 2.4% YoY increase with 111,074 vehicles delivered. Li's cumulative deliveries since inception reached 1,337,810.

Dave Ramsey Values A Quality Marriage And Relationship Over Money, He Once Schooled A Caller Who Hid Money From Wife That 'Spends Too Much'

Dave Ramsey stresses the importance of honesty in marriage over financial wealth, calling out a caller for hiding money from his wife due to cultural differences.

Back This Medical AI Tech

Back This Medical AI Tech - Ad

You don't often find healthcare tech company valued at $4M. HeartSciences is an exception. With $75M invested, including R&D, clinical trials, and product development, their patented AI software is approaching FDA submission, a potential major inflection point.

Drone attacks on oil fields in Iraq's Kurdish region shut down another facility

BAGHDAD (AP) — Drones targeted Wednesday, the latest in a series of attacks in recent days that have put several oil facilities out of commission.

Trump keeps saying the GOP mega bill will eliminate taxes on Social Security. It does not

WASHINGTON (AP) — President keeps saying that Republicans' mega legislation will eliminate taxes on federal benefits.

What's inside Elon's building in Memphis will shock you

What's inside Elon's building in Memphis will shock you - Ad

Inside Elon Musk's Memphis site lies a supercomputer built to power the world's first superhuman AI. It could make Elon a trillionaire - and new millionaires, too. With just $500, you could get in before the July 1st funding window closes.

Elon Musk, Donald Trump Inspired These 'Squid Game' Characters: 'The Ones Running Everything… The Ones In Control'

Squid Game VIPs were mostly behind the scenes previously, but take on a larger role in the show's third season.

Palantir, Anduril, Erebor: Peter Thiel, The Lord Of The Finance Rings

Palantir, Anduril and Erebor borrow their names from Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings."

Major Rollout of Social Security X?

Major Rollout of Social Security X? - Ad

Before leaving D.C., Elon Musk may have greenlit "Social Security X"-a digital overhaul backed by Trump. Set to launch as soon as July 23, this shift could impact 72M Americans-and send 3 tiny tech stocks soaring.

XRP Boosted 4% By Ripple's Stablecoin Partnership With BNY

Ripple (CRYPTO: XRP) has announced that the Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BKAG) will serve as the primary custodian for reserves backing its

Citi Sees 30% Upside In Circle Stock, Backs USDC Issuer As Key Player In Stablecoin Market

Circle Internet Group Inc. (NYSE:CRCL), the issuer behind USDC (CRYPTO: USDC), has been a standout in the stock market this year, and the latest endorsement from Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming - Ad

While headlines scream "Tesla is doomed"...Jeff Brown has uncovered a revolutionary AI breakthrough buried inside Tesla's labs. One that is helping AI escape from our computer screens and manifest itself here in the real world all while creating a 25,000% growth market explosion starting as early as July 23rd.

After years of tough rules on liquids and footwear, US air travel may be on the cusp of a new era

NEW YORK (AP) — When limits on liquids were introduced at TSA checkpoints across the country in 2006, bins overflowed with bottled water, toothpaste, shaving cream and so much more. Nearly two decades later, travelers are much more accustomed to the “3-1-1” regulations" governing the size of the liquids they're flying with, but scenes of passengers guzzling a beverage before putting their bags through the screening machines are still common.

South Korea's top court upholds acquittal of Samsung's Lee over contentious 2015 merger

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s top court Thursday upheld the acquittal of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong on financial , ending years of legal disputes over the 2015 merger between Samsung affiliates that solidified his control over the company.

Tariff-Driven Cash Payouts, Right Off Your Smart Phone?

Tariff-Driven Cash Payouts, Right Off Your Smart Phone? - Ad

The U.S. Treasury has raked in $15B from Trump's tariffs - and now, thanks to Title 15, you could pocket $100-$1,000 upfront payouts yourself. No stocks needed. Just use your phone and my #1 income strategy to start collecting now.

Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern discuss merger to create transcontinental railroad, AP source says

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern are in merger talks to create the largest railroad in North America that would connect the East and West Coasts.

Whitmer says 'massive economic uncertainty' is to blame on semiconductor project failure in Michigan

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Plans to build a semiconductor manufacturing plant in Michigan have fallen through and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday that “massive economic uncertainty” is to blame.

How to Hack a $1.3T Market

How to Hack a $1.3T Market - Ad

Forget concrete. The new foundation for real estate success is digital, and Pacaso leads the way. Their tech unlocks a $1.3T real estate market. They've already earned $110M+ in gross profits in their operating history and reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

Tesla debuts in India with upscale showroom launch in Mumbai

NEW DELHI (AP) — opened its first showroom in on Tuesday, marking the electric vehicle maker’s long-anticipated debut in the world’s third-biggest automotive market.

Trump's bid to claw back $9B in foreign aid and public broadcasting funds nears Senate vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's request to cancel about $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting spending is nearing passage in the Senate, an action that would have a tiny impact on the nation's rising debt but could have major ramifications for future spending fights in Congress.

FDA Submission Expected This Summer - Invest Before It Happens

FDA Submission Expected This Summer - Invest Before It Happens - Ad

This company is making heart disease easier to detect with AI. Their tech has officially been designated a "Breakthrough" by the FDA. You now have an opportunity to get in at a potential inflection point.

Sam Altman Warns Users Not To Blindly Trust ChatGPT Despite Its Rising Fame, Says 'AI Hallucinates, It Should Be The Tech That You Don't Trust That Much'

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has cautioned against the unreserved trust that users have been placing in the company's AI chatbot, ChatGPT, despite its increasing popularity.

US Credit Card Debt Hits $1.18 Trillion As Americans Downplay What They Owe

American credit card debt has surged to an astronomical $1.18 trillion, with a significant number of individuals reportedly concealing their financial predicaments.

Is Elon's Empire Crumbling?

Is Elon's Empire Crumbling? - Ad

Elon Musk Renews Demand for Jeffrey Epstein Files Release, Weeks After Alleging Trump Is Named in Them

Elon Musk has once again demanded the release of the unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files. This comes in the wake of his allegations against President Trump.

Meta Shareholders Sue Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel For $8 Billion Over Privacy Violations Linked To Cambridge Analytica Scandal

Meta shareholders have launched an $8 billion lawsuit against Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, Peter Thiel, and other executives, accusing them of failing to prevent the Cambridge Analytica data breach and violating a 2012 FTC privacy agreement.

Elon's Greatest Invention... Hidden in South Memphis?

Elon's Greatest Invention... Hidden in South Memphis? - Ad

Republican senators caution Trump against firing Fed chair Jerome Powell

WASHINGTON (AP) — is gaining some key backing on Capitol Hill from GOP senators who fear the repercussions if President follows through with the politically independent central banker.

What To Expect From Taiwan Semiconductor Q2 Performance?

Taiwan Semiconductor expects 52% profit jump in Q2 2025 due to high AI demand, but faces pressure from US tariffs and strong currency. TSM stock up 2.96%.

Elon's New Device Could Launch Biggest IPO of the Decade

Elon's New Device Could Launch Biggest IPO of the Decade - Ad

Trump-Backed Crypto Bills Stalled Again In House Of Representatives, Marjorie Taylor Greene Holds Out On CBDC Ban: 'Will Not Vote For This'

House Republican leaders faced another setback Wednesday in their efforts to move key cryptocurrency bills, due to disagreements among GOP lawmakers.

Trending Now

Here's How Sam Altman Quietly Replaced Elon Musk as Donald Trump's Go-To AI Advisor

Whistleblower's Texts Allege Ex-Trump Lawyer Bove Encouraged Lawbreaking. Now He's Up for a Judgeship.

Back This Medical AI Tech - Ad

Trump Calls America Party A 'Train Wreck,' Blasts Elon Musk For Going Completely 'Off The Rails': President Says System Not Designed For A Third Player