Your support helps us tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to big tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the finances of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word,’ which shines a light on American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know the importance of analyzing the facts of messaging. .
At such a critical moment in American history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to continue sending journalists to tell both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to block Americans from our reporting and analysis with a paywall. We believe that quality journalism should be available to everyone, and paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes a difference.
Conservative commentators were outraged by the Biden administration given to a billionaire investor and Democratic megadonor George Soros the Medal of Freedom.
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon has called on the incoming Trump administration to rescind the medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
“Send a team to find Soros and return the medal,” Bannon said on his War Room podcast. “It is a shame that such a demonic individual – who is trying to destroy this country, to make a mockery of this constitutional republic, which he hates and who has devoted his life to destroying – we present him with the highest civilian honor you can give.”
“Get it off his neck,” he added.
He Fox Newspresenter Rachel Campos-Duffy said the award goes to “people who have destroyed freedom”. Her co-host Joe Concha agreed, calling Soros “the most evil man on the planet.”
Soros94, has long been a target of conservative pundits and elected officials. He has given an estimated $32 billion over the years, many to Democratic causes. He also gave money and supported numerous candidates who have been accused of being progressive or pushing weak security policies.
A widely shared post on X compared the decision to award Soros a medal to the awarding of a prize Star Wars the villain, Emperor Palpatine.
Others celebrated that the investor received a medal.
“Congratulations to George Soros – with deep gratitude for his contributions to voting rights, economic opportunity and his steadfast insistence that a just society reflects diversity, promotes equality and inclusion,” voting rights activist Stacey Abrams wrote at X. “The American values he espouses in word and deed.”
“My father is an American patriot who spent his life fighting for freedom and human rights,” his son Alex Soros wrote at X. “I am incredibly proud that his legacy is now recognized as our nation’s highest civilian honor.”
Alex Soros accepted the award on behalf of his father during a ceremony on Saturday. Alex Soros has taken over his father’s role in donating the family fortune.
During Medal of Freedom ceremony on Saturday in the White House, Soros was introduced as an individual whose “generosity reminds us all of our capacity and our obligation to oppose the abuse of power and to be guardians of democracy and all people who yearn to be free.”
Other Medal of Freedom recipients who received the honor alongside Soros include Bono, Hillary Clinton, Earvin “Magic Johnson” and Michael J. Fox.