President Joe Biden is set to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hillary Clinton, George Soros, and a cast of 17 others this Saturday at the White House. The ceremony, which purports to honor those who have made “exemplary contributions” to America’s prosperity, values, or security, feels more like a victory lap for Democratic royalty and their loyal backers. According to the White House, the honorees embody leadership, fairness, and decency. That’s one way to spin it.
Let’s start with George Soros, the 94-year-old billionaire whose checkbook has fueled the Democratic Party for decades. During the 2022 midterms, Soros threw over $175 million into Democrat campaigns, with another $60 million landing in their coffers during the 2024 cycle. And that’s just the political contributions we know about. Through his Open Society Foundations, Soros has spread his wealth across the globe, funding progressive causes and, notably, installing far-left district attorneys in cities like New York and Philadelphia. Critics argue these DAs prioritize social experiments over prosecuting actual crimes, leaving urban areas to grapple with the consequences. But sure, let’s call it “strengthening democracy.”
Soros has also faced backlash for his financial support of groups linked to anti-Israel protests on college campuses. While the White House lauds him as a philanthropist who champions democracy and human rights, Republicans see his influence as something far less noble. After all, pouring millions into organizations that sow division hardly screams “world peace.” Still, it’s clear Soros’s contributions have left an indelible mark on the political landscape—just not the kind many Americans would celebrate.
Then there’s Hillary Clinton, a name synonymous with Democratic elitism. Nearly 12 years after her husband, Bill Clinton, received the same honor from Barack Obama, Hillary will now take her place among the Medal’s recipients. The timing, of course, couldn’t be more fitting for a White House keen on celebrating its loyal foot soldiers. Clinton’s career, from First Lady to failed presidential candidate, has been marked by scandals, controversies, and a knack for dodging accountability. Yet here she is, held up as an example of leadership and decency. The irony is hard to miss.
All in all, the ceremony feels less like an impartial recognition of service to the nation and more like a pageant for Biden’s inner circle. By honoring figures like Soros and Clinton, the administration seems intent on reinforcing its ideological echo chamber rather than celebrating contributions that genuinely unite the country. While the White House extols the virtues of these “great leaders,” many Americans may find themselves wondering if the nation’s highest civilian honor has become little more than a partisan trophy.
