Tesla CEO Elon Musk has publicly criticised US President Joe Biden’s decision to honour controversial billionaire and philanthropist George Soros with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“A travesty that Biden is giving Soros the Medal of Freedom,” Musk worte on X.
On Saturday, President Joe Biden announced the names of the recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom over their contributions to politics, philanthropy, sports, and the arts.
Soros, a billionaire investor and founder of the Open Society Foundations, was named for his “focus on global initiatives that strengthen democracy, human rights, education, and social justice,” according to the official White House statement.
Controversial Soros
Hungary-born Soro is a controversial figure and had earned notoriety for his successful bet against the British pound in 1992, which caused significant economic turmoil and earned him the nickname “the man who broke the Bank of England.”
His political activism, particularly his support for progressive causes, has drawn criticism from conservatives who view him as meddling in global politics.
The Hungarian government launched a highly publicized “Stop Soros” campaign, portraying Soros as a public enemy and accusing him of orchestrating a “migration crisis.”
Other Awardees
Some of the other notable awardees this year include former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, football legend Lionel Messi, U2 frontman Bono and actors Michael J Fox and Denzel Washington. Those receiving the award posthumously are former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer, former Defense Secretary Ash Carter and former Michigan Gov. George W. Romney.
(With inputs from IBNS)
