Washington — On Friday, President Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor, to 19 people, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former Vice President Al Gore and Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky.
Prime Minister Biden briefly described each award recipient, praising their “endless curiosity, creativity, ingenuity and hope.”
Nodding to criticism from his peers who are running for re-election at the age of 81, Mr. Biden praised the following points. Ledecky, 27 years oldShe could be considered the best female swimmer of all time as she prepares for this summer’s Paris Olympics.
“Don’t let age get in your way,” Biden said. “Katie, age is just a number, kid.”
President Biden also used the opportunity to subtly refer to former President Donald Trump as a threat to democracy. The two are presumed to be the 2024 Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, respectively.
The president recalled that Gore conceded the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush after weeks of legal battles over the vote count in Florida. erase refused to yield This comes after Mr Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 election and defended the rioters who attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, protesting the election results.
“After winning the popular vote, I accepted the controversial results of the presidential election for the sake of unity and trust in our institutions,” Biden said of Gore. “What you did was truly amazing to me, Al – I won’t go into detail about it.”
He called Pelosi “the greatest Speaker of the House” and said, “She used her superpowers to pass the most important legislation in the history of our country.”
“On January 6th, Nancy joined her husband, Paul, in standing up for democracy against that violation,” Trump said. “They fought against extremism with absolute courage, physical courage.”
Pelosi’s husband was attacked While the narrator was out at the time, a man with a hammer broke into his San Francisco home.
President Biden was elected for the second time. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.. Recent honorees include both living and deceased honorees.
Full list of 2024 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients:
michael bloombergEntrepreneur, philanthropist, and three-term mayor of New York City.
Father Gregory J. BoyleHe is a Jesuit Catholic priest and founder and director of Homeboy Industries, a gang rehabilitation and re-entry program.
Rep. Jim Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat who served in the House of Representatives for 30 years. He previously served as House Majority Whip and Deputy Democratic Leader.
elizabeth stoneHe served as a senator from North Carolina from 2003 to 2009. She also served as Secretary of Transportation under President Ronald Reagan, Secretary of Labor under President George H. W. Bush, and President of the American Red Cross.
Phil DonahueJournalist who pioneered a weekly issue-focused talk show.
Medgar Wiley Evers He is commemorated posthumously. that led the fight After fighting for his country in World War II, he campaigned against segregation in Mississippi. He was murdered in 1963 at the age of 37.
al gore. The former vice president won the popular vote in the 2000 presidential election but conceded the presidency to George W. Bush after weeks of contested recounts in Florida. He won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his work on climate change.
Clarence B. JonesFamous civil rights activist and lawyer who helped draft Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
john kerry, who served as Secretary of State under President Barack Obama and Special Envoy for Climate under President Biden. He received the Silver and Bronze Stars for his actions in the Vietnam War.
Frank R. Rotenberg He is commemorated posthumously. The five-term senator from New Jersey is remembered for his commitment to environmental protection and consumer safety.
Katie Ledecky She has won seven Olympic gold medals and 21 World Championship gold medals, making her the most decorated female swimmer in history.
OffalyEducator and activist who worked to create June 11th national holiday.
Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space and the second female director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. She flew into space four times.
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi California made history in 2007 as the first woman to be elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. She made history again when she was re-elected in 2019.
Jane Rigbychief scientist of james webb space telescopeIt is the most powerful telescope ever built.
Teresa RomeroPresident of the United Farm Workers and the first Latino to become president of a national labor union in the United States.
Judy ShepherdHe is the co-founder of the Matthew Shepherd Foundation, an organization established in memory of his brutally murdered gay son.
James Francis Thorpe He is commemorated posthumously. He was the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal.
Michelle Yang. actress I won an Academy Award last year. She won the Best Actress Award for her role in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’, becoming the first Asian to win this category.
