Biden Continues a Troubling New Tradition: The Presidential Medal of Trolling Your Successor
The Medal of Freedom is intended to transcend political influences. However, it has unfortunately devolved into just another means of provocation.
TroibNews 
When President Donald Trump utilized his final State of the Union address to announce a Presidential Medal of Freedom for Rush Limbaugh, and later conferred the same medal on congressional arch-conservatives Jim Jordan and Devin Nunes following his 2020 election loss, many in Washington reacted with skepticism. They felt it tarnished an award intended to symbolize the best of America.
This month, however, President Joe Biden's announcement of his own list of recipients for the Medal of Freedom and the Presidential Citizens Medal attracted much less criticism. This is unfortunate, as Biden's choices similarly appear to be a politically motivated farewell aimed at the incoming administration.
Moreover, the political implications of Biden's selections seem unlikely to benefit his party or bolster his legacy. His honorees reflect a microcosm of the social sectors that recently struggled to prevent Trump’s comeback.
Among the notable recipients are figures from upscale media, philanthropic finance, activist Hollywood, and the anti-Trump resistance, alongside representatives of cosmopolitan cuisine, somewhat foreign sports, country-club Republicanism, and the Democratic pantheon of martyrs.
Notably, Hillary Rodham Clinton was among the recipients.
Certain Republicans took particular exception to the inclusion of George Soros, prominent for funding liberal initiatives and a frequent target of conservative attacks, perceiving it as deliberate provocation.
This can be seen as part of a broader trend that has emerged during the political conflicts of the 21st century—one that Biden was expected to counteract. Trump's last-minute recognitions of election deniers were not isolated incidents; a historical parallel can be drawn to George W. Bush, who awarded the Medal of Freedom to Tony Blair and John Howard as he left office, despite their contentious backing of the Iraq War that Biden’s incoming administration was critical of.
While outgoing presidents may not have the power to alter voter sentiment, they can use their final ceremony to highlight their priorities, especially in ways that may not align with the new leadership.
Individually, the honorees on Biden's recent list represent commendable figures, including civil rights advocate Fannie Lou Hamer, conservationist Jane Goodall, and science educator Bill Nye. The group also features activists from the marriage equality movement, an issue of particular pride for Biden—though it receives little acknowledgment from certain progressives within his party.
However, taken as a whole, the list does little to dispel the perception that Democrats are disconnected from the mainstream. Despite their cultural and humanitarian achievements, figures like Anna Wintour and José Andrés are far removed from the everyday realities faced by many Americans. The Romney and Cheney families, emblematic of a certain Republicanism, have faced electoral failures due to their unpopularity.
The awards to David Rubenstein and Soros were particularly ill-received. Although both are recognized and philanthropic individuals, Rubenstein’s support for a tax loophole benefiting private equity magnates contradicts Biden’s union-supportive platform. Additionally, honoring billionaires undermines a potential post-election party message critiquing the problematic influence of figures like Elon Musk in a potentially Trump-led administration.
There were also several typically Biden-esque awardees. He bestowed Presidential Citizen Medals upon former colleagues Chris Dodd and Nancy Landon Kassebaum, and a Citizen Medal on Ted Kaufman, a longtime Biden aide who temporarily held Biden’s Senate seat with the hope of passing it on to Biden’s son, Beau. The Medal of Freedom to Ralph Lauren, an esteemed American designer who created Naomi Biden’s wedding dress, added another personal touch.
Criticizing a departing president for honoring his own favorites may seem churlish, especially given the honorees’ distinguished careers. However, the overtly political tone surrounding these awards diminishes the stature of the nation’s highest civilian honor, which is typically meant to acknowledge significant contributions to America.
Tevi Troy, a former member of the Bush White House, reflected on how the bestowal of such honors had historically involved a formal process, with recommendations from organizations like the NEA and NEH. He noted, “Bush’s office would be involved. And I know Karl Rove’s office would get to see them. But my perception wasn’t that the White House was really picking them.” Across party lines, honor selections were often seen as broadly bipartisan: Bill Clinton awarded former Senate GOP leader Bob Dole while Ronald Reagan honored former Senate Democratic leader Mike Mansfield. “Presidents were trying to pick unity with these picks,” said Troy, now a scholar at the Ronald Reagan Institute and author of multiple books on the presidency.
For better or worse, that spirit of bipartisanship seems unlikely to return soon.
While Biden promised a traditional, old-school presidency—and recognized past Republican figures like Elizabeth Dole and Alan Simpson—Trump has often chosen to exacerbate divisions. His selections for Medal of Freedom honorees have favored an array of bombastic conservatives, with few Democrats included. Even on Biden's final list, no one embodies the personal vitriol that characterized Limbaugh's political influence.
Given the current political tone and context, it is unlikely that such dynamics will shift in a potential second Trump administration.
However, it’s important to note that Trump did not pledge an old-school approach that would revive the consensus-driven Medal of Freedom ceremonies of the 20th century. Biden, on the other hand, did make that promise—making his final list of honorees yet another disappointment—even if it may be deemed superior to what his successor might present.
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
This month, however, President Joe Biden's announcement of his own list of recipients for the Medal of Freedom and the Presidential Citizens Medal attracted much less criticism. This is unfortunate, as Biden's choices similarly appear to be a politically motivated farewell aimed at the incoming administration.
Moreover, the political implications of Biden's selections seem unlikely to benefit his party or bolster his legacy. His honorees reflect a microcosm of the social sectors that recently struggled to prevent Trump’s comeback.
Among the notable recipients are figures from upscale media, philanthropic finance, activist Hollywood, and the anti-Trump resistance, alongside representatives of cosmopolitan cuisine, somewhat foreign sports, country-club Republicanism, and the Democratic pantheon of martyrs.
Notably, Hillary Rodham Clinton was among the recipients.
Certain Republicans took particular exception to the inclusion of George Soros, prominent for funding liberal initiatives and a frequent target of conservative attacks, perceiving it as deliberate provocation.
This can be seen as part of a broader trend that has emerged during the political conflicts of the 21st century—one that Biden was expected to counteract. Trump's last-minute recognitions of election deniers were not isolated incidents; a historical parallel can be drawn to George W. Bush, who awarded the Medal of Freedom to Tony Blair and John Howard as he left office, despite their contentious backing of the Iraq War that Biden’s incoming administration was critical of.
While outgoing presidents may not have the power to alter voter sentiment, they can use their final ceremony to highlight their priorities, especially in ways that may not align with the new leadership.
Individually, the honorees on Biden's recent list represent commendable figures, including civil rights advocate Fannie Lou Hamer, conservationist Jane Goodall, and science educator Bill Nye. The group also features activists from the marriage equality movement, an issue of particular pride for Biden—though it receives little acknowledgment from certain progressives within his party.
However, taken as a whole, the list does little to dispel the perception that Democrats are disconnected from the mainstream. Despite their cultural and humanitarian achievements, figures like Anna Wintour and José Andrés are far removed from the everyday realities faced by many Americans. The Romney and Cheney families, emblematic of a certain Republicanism, have faced electoral failures due to their unpopularity.
The awards to David Rubenstein and Soros were particularly ill-received. Although both are recognized and philanthropic individuals, Rubenstein’s support for a tax loophole benefiting private equity magnates contradicts Biden’s union-supportive platform. Additionally, honoring billionaires undermines a potential post-election party message critiquing the problematic influence of figures like Elon Musk in a potentially Trump-led administration.
There were also several typically Biden-esque awardees. He bestowed Presidential Citizen Medals upon former colleagues Chris Dodd and Nancy Landon Kassebaum, and a Citizen Medal on Ted Kaufman, a longtime Biden aide who temporarily held Biden’s Senate seat with the hope of passing it on to Biden’s son, Beau. The Medal of Freedom to Ralph Lauren, an esteemed American designer who created Naomi Biden’s wedding dress, added another personal touch.
Criticizing a departing president for honoring his own favorites may seem churlish, especially given the honorees’ distinguished careers. However, the overtly political tone surrounding these awards diminishes the stature of the nation’s highest civilian honor, which is typically meant to acknowledge significant contributions to America.
Tevi Troy, a former member of the Bush White House, reflected on how the bestowal of such honors had historically involved a formal process, with recommendations from organizations like the NEA and NEH. He noted, “Bush’s office would be involved. And I know Karl Rove’s office would get to see them. But my perception wasn’t that the White House was really picking them.” Across party lines, honor selections were often seen as broadly bipartisan: Bill Clinton awarded former Senate GOP leader Bob Dole while Ronald Reagan honored former Senate Democratic leader Mike Mansfield. “Presidents were trying to pick unity with these picks,” said Troy, now a scholar at the Ronald Reagan Institute and author of multiple books on the presidency.
For better or worse, that spirit of bipartisanship seems unlikely to return soon.
While Biden promised a traditional, old-school presidency—and recognized past Republican figures like Elizabeth Dole and Alan Simpson—Trump has often chosen to exacerbate divisions. His selections for Medal of Freedom honorees have favored an array of bombastic conservatives, with few Democrats included. Even on Biden's final list, no one embodies the personal vitriol that characterized Limbaugh's political influence.
Given the current political tone and context, it is unlikely that such dynamics will shift in a potential second Trump administration.
However, it’s important to note that Trump did not pledge an old-school approach that would revive the consensus-driven Medal of Freedom ceremonies of the 20th century. Biden, on the other hand, did make that promise—making his final list of honorees yet another disappointment—even if it may be deemed superior to what his successor might present.
Lucas Dupont for TROIB News
