WASHINGTON –

In the East Room of the White House on a particularly cold Saturday afternoon, President Joe Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 of the most famous names in politics, sports, entertainment, civil rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy and academia.

Video above: Joe Biden awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 recipients

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton drew a standing ovation from the crowd as she received her medal. Clinton was accompanied to the event by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, her daughter Chelsea Clinton and her grandchildren. Democratic philanthropist George Soros and actor and director Denzel Washington were also honored with the nation’s highest civilian honor at a ceremony at the White House.

“For the last time as president, I have the honor to award the Medal of Freedom, our nation’s highest civilian honor, to a group of extraordinary, truly extraordinary people who have made their sacred effort, their sacred effort, to uplift the culture and the “It’s a matter of shaping America,” Biden said in his opening speech.

“Let me just say to each of you: Thank you, thank you, thank you for everything you have done to help this country,” Biden said Saturday.

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

Kennedy is the father of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Health and Human Services secretary. Biden said: “Bobby is one of my true political heroes. I love and miss him very much.”

Romney is the father of former Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney, one of Trump’s harshest conservative critics.

Biden has days left in the presidency and has spent the last few days presenting awards and medals to brave military veterans, courageous law enforcement officers and extraordinary Americans.

The White House said Medal of Freedom recipients have made “exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values ​​or security of the United States, to world peace or to other significant societal, public or private endeavors.”

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

Soros’ son Alex Soros accepted the medal on his father’s behalf. In an emailed statement, George Soros said: “As an immigrant who has found freedom and prosperity in America, I am deeply touched by this honor.”

Recognized sports and entertainment stars include professional soccer player Lionel Messi, who did not attend the event; retired Los Angeles Lakers basketball legend and businessman Earvin “Magic” Johnson; actor Michael J. Fox, a strong advocate for the research and development of Parkinson’s disease; and William Sanford Nye, known to generations of students as “Bill Nye the Scientist.”

Other honorees include conservationist Jane Goodall; longtime editor-in-chief of Vogue Magazine, 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 global investment firm The Carlyle Group.

Lauren is the first fashion designer to receive this award.

Last year, Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 people, including the late Medgar Evers, Speaker Emeritus of the House Nancy Pelosi, Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina and actress Michelle Yeoh.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the Presidential Medal of Freedom has been awarded 654 times between 1963 and 2024. Notable past recipients of the Medal of Freedom include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou and Mother Teresa.