President Biden is expected to honor a number of people, celebrities and cultural stars on Saturday with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest award, which includes a list of household names in his last ceremony as president.
The 19 honorees include the most prominent leaders and promoters of the Democratic Party: Hillary Clinton, philanthropist and major donor to the Democratic Alliance George Soros, and Robert F. Kennedy, who will be honored posthumously.
The list drawn by Mr. Biden also includes famous figures in sports, entertainment, fashion and movies. Here are the individual honorees.
José Andrés
Apart from his reputation as a celebrity chef, Mr. Andrés humanitarian became the most visible aspect of the war in Gaza during the presidency of Mr. the war displaced most of its 2.2 million inhabitants. Last year, seven World Central Kitchen workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike while working in Gaza, drawing attention to the dangers of hunger during the war and the dangers faced by aid workers.
Bono
The Irish singer-songwriter, whose band, U2, the president described as “the bridge between Ireland and America,” enjoyed a close friendship with Mr. Biden in his time. Mr. Biden personally introduced the group at the 2022 Kennedy Center Honors and hosted Bono in his 2023 State of the Union address.
Ashton B. Carter (after death)
Mr. Carter, a Rhodes scholar and physicist, served as secretary of defense under President Barack Obama. She took the position after a long tenure at the Pentagon and used her influence as secretary of defense to expand military eligibility for women and transgender service members. He died at the age of 68 in 2022.
Hillary Clinton
As vice president, Mr. Biden worked with Mrs. Clinton under Mr. Obama after competing with him in the presidential election.
Michael J. Fox
Mr. Fox is known for roles in the movie “Back to the Future” and the 1980s sitcom “Family Ties.” He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 29 and has become a leading voice in research on the disease through his foundation.
Tim Gill
After founding the technology company Quark, which produced novel architecture and design software in the 1980s and ’90s, Mr. Gill sold his stake to focus on philanthropy aimed at LGBTQ rights and advocacy. His foundation has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in campaigns to change policy on issues such as marriage equality and school bullying.
Jane Goodall
The scientist and activist, who turns 90 this year, is known for his groundbreaking work in animal research and human evolution.
Fannie Lou Hamer (after death)
Mrs. Hamer, a civil rights activist and founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, fought for equal political representation after being born on a plantation during the Jim Crow era. He died at the age of 60 in 1977.
Earvin Johnson
NBA champion and basketball star known as “Magic,” Mr. Johnson became a powerful voice in court after publicly announcing his HIV diagnosis in the early 1990s and helping to destigmatize living with the virus. He was also a supporter of Mr. Biden during his presidential campaign, defeating the president in Michigan.
Robert F. Kennedy (after death)
Robert F. Kennedy had an impressive career in Democratic politics as a congressman and US attorney general before his assassination in 1968. His son Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has embraced the GOP and President-elect Donald J. Trump, and is Mr. Trump’s nomination for health secretary.
Ralph Lauren
The 85-year-old, whose clothes were a favorite of Jill Biden during her time as first lady, is the first fashion designer to receive the Medal of Freedom.
Lionel Messi
The Argentinian star was listed less than two years after retiring from international football to play for Inter Miami. His presence in the American league brought more spectators and more money to the club.
Bill Nye
Embedded in the minds of millions of children for his role as host of “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” Mr. Nye resurfaced after the show ended in 1999 as a TikTok celebrity and science and climate policy advocate.
George W. Romney (after death)
Former chairman of American Motors Corporation, Mr. Romney, a Republican, later served a three-year term as governor of Michigan and as President Richard M. Nixon’s housing secretary. As governor, he adopted a series of progressive policies that included supporting civil rights programs and opposing the Vietnam War. He died at the age of 88 in 1995.
David M. Rubenstein
The billionaire founder of the Carlyle Group has donated to fund work on some of the most famous landmarks around Washington, including the Washington Monument and the National Zoo.
George Soros
A colleague of Mr. Biden is also an ardent supporter of liberal causes, Mr. Soros is among the few prominent Democratic figures who received the award during Mr. Trump’s presidency. Biden. A billionaire and megadonor to the Democratic Alliance, Mr. Soros has become an American political figure, often reviled by conservative commentators.
George Stevens Jr.
Mr. Stevens is a filmmaker, producer and founder of the American Film Institute and Kennedy Center Honors. His writing and producing credits include the 1998 film “The Thin Red Line” and a play about the life of Thurgood Marshall. Outside of film and stage, his work focuses on preserving the heritage of American cinema.
Denzel Washington
A popular actor and national spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for over 30 years, Mr. Washington was chosen by Mr.
Anna Wintour
Ms. Wintour is the editor-in-chief of Vogue, a position she has held since 1988. A key fundraiser at the heart of the Democratic Alliance’s celebrity circles, she has also served as chairwoman of the annual Met Gala.
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