Tesla CEO Elon Musk has openly denounced President Joe Biden’s decision to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of US, to controversial billionaire philanthropist George Soros.
“A travesty that Biden is giving Soros the Medal of Freedom,” Musk stated on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
On Saturday (4 January), Biden revealed the names of the 19 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, recognising their contributions across fields such as politics, philanthropy, sports, and the arts.
Among them, George Soros, a billionaire investor and founder of the Open Society Foundations, was cited for his “focus on global initiatives that strengthen democracy, human rights, education, and social justice,” according to the official White House statement.
Other notable awardees this year include former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, football legend Lionel Messi, and actors Michael J Fox and Denzel Washington, among others.
The decision to honour Soros has drawn divided reactions, with his role as a major donor to Democratic causes and frequent criticism from Republican politicians fuelling the controversy.
Musk and other Republican figures have labeled the recognition as politically motivated.
However, Biden defended the award recipients, describing them as individuals who represent America’s core values and enhance its global reputation.
“These nineteen individuals are great leaders who have made extraordinary contributions to our country and the world. They defend the values of America, even when under attack,” Biden stated during the announcement.
The Republican Party has long accused Soros of using his wealth to influence global politics.
Soros has also been a focal point of political controversy in India.
During India’s Winter Session of Parliament in December, BJP president JP Nadda accused the Congress party of being linked to Soros and his organisations.
Nadda claimed that the Congress party was acting as a “tool” of foreign forces to destabilise India, citing alleged ties between party chief leader Sonia Gandhi and Soros-funded initiatives.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge dismissed the accusations as baseless, asserting that the BJP was attempting to shift focus away from socio-economic challenges facing India.
The fiery exchange resulted in repeated adjournments in both houses of Parliament.
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