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Who Are the Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

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Who Are the Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

President Biden recognized an expansive cast of public figures, celebrities and cultural luminaries on Saturday with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, covering a list of household names in his final ceremony as president.

The 18 honorees included some of the Democratic Party’s best-known leaders and boosters: Hillary Clinton, the philanthropist and major Democratic donor George Soros, and Robert F. Kennedy, who was given the recognition posthumously.

The list Mr. Biden drew up also included famous figures in sports, entertainment, fashion and film. Here are each of the honorees.

José Andrés

Aside from his fame as a celebrity chef, Mr. Andrés’s philanthropy work became a highly visible element of the war in Gaza during Mr. Biden’s presidency, as his aid group, World Central Kitchen, assumed a dangerous role bringing food into the region after the war displaced the majority of its 2.2 million residents. Last year, seven people working for World Central Kitchen were killed by Israeli airstrikes while working in Gaza, drawing attention to the risk of famine during the war and the dangers facing aid workers.

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Bono

The Irish singer-songwriter, whose band, U2, the president has described as a “bridge between Ireland and America,” has enjoyed a close friendship with Mr. Biden during his tenure. Mr. Biden personally introduced the band at the 2022 Kennedy Center Honors and hosted Bono at his 2023 State of the Union address.

Ashton B. Carter (posthumous)

Mr. Carter, a Rhodes scholar and trained physicist, served as defense secretary under President Barack Obama. He assumed the post after a lengthy Pentagon career and used his influence as defense secretary to expand military eligibility for women and transgender service members. He died at age 68 in 2022.

Hillary Clinton

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A former first lady and senator from New York, Mrs. Clinton served as secretary of state under Mr. Obama, whom she competed with for the Democratic nomination in 2008. She ran for president again in 2016 and earned the party’s nomination but lost the general election to Donald J. Trump.

Michael J. Fox

Mr. Fox is known for roles in the film “Back to the Future” and the 1980s sitcom “Family Ties.” He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 29 and has become a leading voice for research on the disease through his foundation.

Tim Gill

After founding the tech company Quark, which produced novel layout and design software through the 1980s and ’90s, Mr. Gill sold his stake to concentrate on charity work aimed at L.G.B.T.Q. rights and advocacy. His foundation has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in campaigns to shift policy on issues such as marriage equality and bullying in schools.

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Jane Goodall

The scientist and activist, who turned 90 this year, is known for her breakthrough work on the study of primates and human evolution.

Fannie Lou Hamer (posthumous)

Ms. Hamer, a civil rights activist and the co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, fought for equal representation in politics after being born into sharecropping in the Jim Crow era. She died at age 60 in 1977.

Earvin Johnson

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A five-time N.B.A. champion and basketball star known as Magic, Mr. Johnson became an influential voice off the court after publicly announcing an H.I.V. diagnosis in the early ’90s and helping to destigmatize living with the virus. He was also a close supporter of Mr. Biden during his presidential campaign, stumping for the president in Michigan.

Robert F. Kennedy (posthumous)

Robert F. Kennedy had a storied career in Democratic politics as a senator and the U.S. attorney general before his assassination in 1968. His son Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has embraced the G.O.P. and President-elect Donald J. Trump, and is Mr. Trump’s pick to be health secretary.

Ralph Lauren

The 85-year-old, whose clothes have been a favorite of Jill Biden’s throughout her time as first lady, is the first fashion designer to receive the Medal of Freedom.

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Bill Nye

Implanted in the psyche of millions of children through his role as the host of “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” Mr. Nye re-emerged after the show ended in 1999 as a popular personality on TikTok and a science and climate policy advocate.

George W. Romney (posthumous)

A former chairman of the American Motors Corporation, Mr. Romney, a Republican, later served as a three-term governor of Michigan and as President Richard M. Nixon’s housing secretary. As governor, he embraced a range of progressive policy stances including supporting civil rights initiatives and opposing the war in Vietnam. He died at age 88 in 1995.

David M. Rubenstein

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The billionaire co-founder of the Carlyle Group has donated to fund work on some of the best-known spaces around Washington, including the Washington Monument and the National Zoo.

George Soros

An ally of Mr. Biden and a fierce supporter of liberal causes, Mr. Soros is among several prominent Democratic figures to receive the award during Mr. Biden’s presidency. A billionaire and Democratic megadonor, Mr. Soros has become a polarizing figure in American politics, often vilified by conservative commentators.

George Stevens Jr.

Mr. Stevens is a filmmaker, a producer and the founder of the American Film Institute and the 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 the stage, his work has focused on preserving American cinematic heritage.

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Denzel Washington

An acclaimed actor and the national spokesman for Boys & Girls Clubs of America for over 30 years, Mr. Washington was selected by Mr. Biden to receive the award in 2022 but missed the ceremony after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Anna Wintour

Ms. Wintour is the editor in chief of Vogue, a position she has held since 1988. A key fund-raiser at the center of Democratic celebrity circles, she has also served as the co-chairwoman of the annual Met Gala.

Lionel Messi

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The Argentine soccer superstar was originally on the list but was unable to accept the award on Saturday because of a scheduling conflict.

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‘Severe’ Pentagon lockdown sparks emergency response as hazmat teams sweep area

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‘Severe’ Pentagon lockdown sparks emergency response as hazmat teams sweep area

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Certain areas in the Pentagon went on lockdown Thursday morning due to an “air quality incident,” Fox News Digital has learned. 

An alert, shared with Fox News Digital, carrying a “severe” rating was sent to employees in multiple corridors of the building directing them to shelter in place. All other personnel were told to avoid the area.

“The Pentagon has sophisticated systems to ensure the safety of the building and its occupants,” chief spokesperson Sean Parnell told Fox News Digital. “Those systems have detected an air quality issue necessitating precautionary measures until we determine its significance. The Department is executing standard protection protocols, including a shelter-in-place order for the affected area.  Response teams are in place and ready to support building occupants.”

The Pentagon is seen from an airplane, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Washington. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)

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A hazardous materials team is scrubbing several locations in the Pentagon’s A ring, the center-most location in the building, according to a Pentagon official. 

Approximately 23,000 to 27,000 people work in the Pentagon on any given day. 

Secretary Pete Hegeth’s office and chairman of the joint chiefs Gen. Dan Caine’s office are not located in the corridors placed under lockdown. 

Systems detected a problem with the air quality in that part of the building and a device picked up a biohazard scent, the Pentagon source told Fox News. Nothing has been found as of this writing.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

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The Arlington, Virginia, fire department confirmed on X it sent its Hazardous Materials team to support the Pentagon Force Protection Agency’s Hazmat team with the incident.

Fox News’ Liz Friden contributed to this report.

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Who will be the new ’60 Minutes’ correspondents?

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Who will be the new ’60 Minutes’ correspondents?

While the smoke has begun to clear at “60 Minutes” after three correspondents were fired, CBS News leadership now faces the challenge of finding journalists who can fill their shoes just three months before a new season starts.

The venerable news magazine was plunged into crisis last week as longtime correspondent Scott Pelley confronted management about the May 28 firings of his colleagues Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega along with the program’s executive producer Tanya Simon and her second-in-command Draggan Mihailovich.

Pelley, who also accused CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss of “murdering” the program, was terminated June 2 after a 37-year career at the network. He later gave an interview to The New York Times, accusing Weiss of “putting her thumb on the scale” for the Trump administration when guiding the editorial direction of stories.

(CBS News denied Pelley’s accusations. But Paramount Chief Executive David Ellison, who has given Weiss a free hand in disrupting the CBS News hierarchy, found the turbulent situation concerning enough to personally reach out to veteran “60 Minutes” correspondent Lesley Stahl, according to The New York Times. He assured Stahl that he will respect the editorial independence of the program, a message she passed along to the staff.)

Lesley Stahl in the 2022 film “Marcel the Shell With Shoes On.”

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(A24)

The recent personnel bloodbath followed the already announced departure of Anderson Cooper, and leaves CBS News with four correspondent roles to fill and a far less experienced executive producer — former tech journalist Nick Bilton in place to keep the program on track.

Remaining staffers were encouraged that Maria Gavrilovic, a 19-year veteran of CBS News who worked closely with Pelley, was promoted to senior producer under Bilton. They are also relieved that correspondents Stahl, Jon Wertheim and Bill Whitaker chose to remain with the program rather than leave in solidarity with Pelley.

Norah O'Donnell's interview with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in 2021.

Norah O’Donnell’s interview with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in 2021.

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But “60 Minutes” is under pressure to get a new team in place as newcomers will have little time to learn the program’s formula that gives it the comforting consistency its viewers seek. The 13-minute pieces on “60 Minutes” are filmed, written and voice-tracked in a distinctive narrative style that takes time to master, according to people who have gone through the process.

Weiss has told people internally that “60 Minutes” is the most important platform within the news division and if a major story comes from outside its corps of correspondents, it will find a place on the program.

Here are the leading contenders for full-time roles based on interviews with several sources at CBS News who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. A CBS News representative declined comment.

Holly Williams: Williams has been a foreign correspondent working out of Istanbul since 2012. The Australian journalist has reported extensively from war zones in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Gaza and Ukraine. When covering Syria’s civil war from inside the country, she and her team gained access to a prison where alleged ISIS terrorists were being held.

Williams has contributed reports to “60 Minutes” over the years. Before joining CBS, she was a Beijing-based correspondent for Sky News.

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CBS News foreign correspondent Holly Williams,

CBS News foreign correspondent Holly Williams,

(Michele Crowe / CBS News)

Tony Dokoupil: The anchor of “CBS Evening News” is expected to be added as a contributor to “60 Minutes,” a role also given to his predecessors at the newscast including Dan Rather, Katie Couric, Scott Pelley and Norah O’Donnell.

Dokoupil has done longer interviews and segments for “CBS Sunday Morning” over his 11 years at the network. The additional exposure to a Sunday night audience of more than 9 million who tune into “60 Minutes” could also help boost his nightly newscast. The program has struggled in the ratings since he took over in January when, during his inaugural week, he awkwardly saluted Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the close of one episode.

"CBS Evening News" anchor Tony Dokoupil and the network's chief national correspondent Matt Gutman.

“CBS Evening News” anchor Tony Dokoupil and the network’s chief national correspondent Matt Gutman.

(CBS News)

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Matt Gutman: The network’s national correspondent was Weiss’ first significant on-air talent hire when he joined from ABC News in December. Gutman has been a frequent presence on big stories and breaking coverage for “CBS Evening News” since he arrived.

Mariana van Zeller at the Ultimate Disney Fan Event at the Anaheim Convention Center in September 2022.

Mariana van Zeller at the Ultimate Disney Fan Event at the Anaheim Convention Center in September 2022.

(Image Group LA / Walt Disney Co.)

Mariana van Zeller: The multilingual journalist is best known for her documentary series “Trafficked,” which airs on the National Geographic Channel. Van Zeller, 50, has won dozens of awards for the program that has taken her around the world to report on black market activities and human trafficking.

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Norah O’Donnell: Currently a contributor to “60 Minutes” who already appears on the program’s trademark open, O’Donnell’s role is expected to expand. After CBS settled a $16-million lawsuit filed by President Trump against the program for what he claimed was deceptive editing of an interview, O’Donnell helped the program by stepping up to interview the president twice, subjecting him to tough questions. Her recent joint interview with three U.S. cardinals about Pope Leo XIV and his church’s opposition to the Iran war and Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown became a major story in April.

Major Garrett: The network’s chief Washington correspondent recently appeared on “60 Minutes” to interview Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The assignment caused internal tension as Stahl was pursuing a sit-down with the leader. But Weiss handled the booking and gave Netanyahu the option to select Garrett.

While the decision faced some criticism, the program regularly agreed to former President Obama’s preference for now-retired “60 Minutes” correspondent Steve Kroft to interview him even though other journalists on the team wanted a chance.

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Trump’s Plaques on the Presidential ‘Walk of Fame,’ Fact-Checked and Annotated by Historians

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Trump’s Plaques on the Presidential ‘Walk of Fame,’ Fact-Checked and Annotated by Historians

In a well-trafficked walkway linking the West Wing to the White House residence, President Trump has recast history with gold-lettered plaques that summarize each of the 47 U.S. presidencies.

They are peppered with falsehoods, misrepresentations, insults, praise, self-promotion and erratic capitalizations.

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Attendees at a Rose Garden dinner mingled near the plaques in May. Doug Mills/The New York Times

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The Times photographed each plaque and asked eight historians who have studied and written about both Democratic and Republican presidents to examine and annotate the exhibit, which spans 5,400 words.

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  • Nicole Anslover

    Florida Atlantic University

  • Portrait of Douglas Brinkley

    Douglas Brinkley

    Rice University

  • Portrait of David Greenberg

    David Greenberg

    Rutgers University

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  • Portrait of Timothy Naftali

    Timothy Naftali

    Columbia University

  • Portrait of Larry Sabato

    Larry Sabato

    University of Virginia

  • Portrait of Daryl Scott

    Daryl Scott

    Morgan State University

  • Portrait of Marc Selverstone

    Marc Selverstone

    University of Virginia

  • Portrait of Sean Wilentz

    Sean Wilentz

    Princeton University

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The historians noted that the plaques are not a dispassionate museum display. Rather, they said, they are a skewed narrative of history by Mr. Trump, with him as the protagonist. The plaques are written in Mr. Trump’s signature hyperbolic style, as seen in his social media posts.

Asked about the plaques, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, ​said, “As a student of history, many were written directly by the president himself.” The Times shared the historians’ observations with the White House, which declined to comment on the specific points in the annotations. It also declined to provide details on the sources Mr. Trump and others used to write the plaques.

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Mr. Trump showed the plaques to New York Times reporters in January. Doug Mills/The New York Times

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The commentary surrounding more recent presidents — like Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Barack Obama — adopts a sharper and more partisan tone. While entries for earlier presidents are less combative, they recast history in a way that favors Mr. Trump’s priorities and the unprecedented actions of his administration. The exhibit “is not so much bad history as it is anti-historical,” said Sean Wilentz, an American history professor at Princeton University.

Tariffs are mentioned 18 times. Major scandals are left out (Teapot Dome), or not explained (Watergate). The Monroe Doctrine — which Mr. Trump has misinterpreted, historians say, and used to justify U.S. interventions in the Western Hemisphere — is repeatedly lauded.

The White House ballroom project — which is still under construction and caught in a legal battle — is described as already built. Mr. Trump himself appears in the capsules of six predecessors. And the description of the first year of his second term takes up more space than the summaries for the presidencies of Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt combined.

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Below is the full, unedited text of the plaques, along with a selection of historians’ comments that has been edited for clarity. While the annotations offer insight across the plaques, they are not meant to be comprehensive. Unannotated copy may also include falsehoods or misrepresentations.

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Explore the plaques, with  annotations from historians

To choose a presidency, click on a numbered box or search by name. To see a historian’s annotation, click on a highlighted phrase.

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