Biden to Give Disgraced Liz Cheney a Prestigous Award

President Joe Biden will officially announce the 2025 Presidential Citizens Medal recipients Thursday at 5 PM, and one name is already sparking attention: former Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney.

Cheney, who served as Vice Chair of the January 6 Committee and has been a vocal critic of President-elect Donald Trump, is among 20 individuals to receive the honor. The medal, awarded to those who have demonstrated exemplary service to the nation or fellow citizens, highlights Cheney’s role in what the White House described as a “steadfast defense of our Nation’s ideals.”

“Throughout two decades in public service, including as a Congresswoman for Wyoming and Vice Chair of the Committee on the January 6 attack, Liz Cheney has raised her voice—and reached across the aisle—to defend our Nation and the ideals we stand for: Freedom. Dignity. And decency,” read the White House statement.

The ceremony is scheduled for January 2, 2025, at the White House, where Cheney will stand alongside a diverse group of honorees.

A Star-Studded Roster of Honorees

This year’s medal recipients reflect a wide array of accomplishments. Among them are:

• Mary L. Bonauto, a trailblazing attorney who argued the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges case, establishing marriage equality as law.
• Bill Bradley, an NBA Hall-of-Famer and former U.S. Senator recognized for his contributions to tax reform and civil rights.
• Frank K. Butler, Jr., a Navy SEAL and innovator in battlefield trauma care.

Other notable names include posthumous honorees such as Louis Lorenzo Redding, a civil rights lawyer who helped lay the groundwork for Brown v. Board of Education, and Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi, who challenged Japanese-American internment during World War II.

Cheney’s Role in a Polarized Landscape

Liz Cheney’s inclusion is sure to draw both praise and criticism. Once a staunch Republican leader, Cheney’s outspoken criticism of Trump and her prominent role in the January 6 hearings alienated her from many within her party.

Her actions earned her the ire of Trump supporters but also cemented her reputation as a defender of democratic principles. “Her integrity and intrepidness remind us all what is possible if we work together,” the White House statement added.

Honoring Service and Sacrifice

Other honorees include advocates like Carolyn McCarthy, who turned personal tragedy into a career in Congress championing gun safety, and Evan Wolfson, who led the fight for marriage equality over three decades.

The list also includes unsung heroes like Diane Carlson Evans, a Vietnam War nurse who ensured recognition for female service members, and Frances M. Visco, a breast cancer survivor who reshaped advocacy for women’s healthcare.

As President Biden prepares to bestow these honors, the ceremony promises to highlight not just individual achievements but also the enduring spirit of public service and resilience in the face of adversity.