“Medal of Freedom”: Biden awards Bono

With 16 days left in his term, Joe Biden is also using presidential honors to send an unequivocal message of support for the democratic order that he believes is threatened by Donald Trump. Thus, in the list of 19 awarded at the White House with the Medal of Freedom, the highest American civilian award, appear Hillary Clinton, George Soros, the late Robert Francis Kennedy, George W. Romney, Bono and others. An award certainly with political significance.

Among other charitable initiatives, the U2 singer collaborated on the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. “He has made an exemplary contribution to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, to world peace, or to other significant societal endeavors,” the White House said in a statement. He is the first Irishman to receive the honor since 2009, when Obama awarded the Medal of Freedom to Mary Robinson, the first woman to become president of Ireland. Bono was also the first recipient of the Leadership Medal from former US President George W. Bush. The award, which will take place annually, was established by the George W. Bush Presidential Center to pay homage to those who, in some way, “try to change the world” and Bono was the first awarded “for his commitment against poverty and diseases that can be prevented, such as HIV/AIDS”. From Bush to Biden: Bono’s contribution was recognized unilaterally.