President Joe Biden awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 19 people on Saturday, recognizing a broad swath of luminaries across politics, culture and the arts.
Honorees included former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, designer Ralph Lauren, U2 frontman Bono and philanthropist and megadonor George Soros.
“For the final time as president I have the honor of bestowing the Medal of Freedom, our nation’s highest civilian honor, to a group of extraordinary — truly extraordinary people who gave their sacred effort to shape the culture and the cause of America,” Biden said in brief remarks.
