President Joe Biden, in his outgoing tenure, will bestow the prestigious second-highest civilian honor on two prominent adversaries of Donald Trump, marking a final gesture towards the president-elect prior to his inauguration.
Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson will receive the Presidential Citizens Medal for their pivotal roles in spearheading the congressional probe into the violent events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, when Trump loyalists attempted to obstruct the formal recognition of Biden’s electoral win.
This honor is likely to disturb Trump, who has accused both of them of “deleting and destroying” the testimonies gathered for the January 6 committee and has gone as far as to suggest they should face imprisonment.
In contrast, Biden’s perspective is markedly different. Ahead of the Thursday ceremony, the White House issued a statement announcing that Cheney and Thompson would be recognized alongside a total of 18 honorees.
“President Biden believes these Americans exemplify a shared sense of decency and devotion to public service. The nation is enriched by their commitment and sacrifices,” the statement read.
Among those also set to receive the award are advocates for marriage equality and gun safety, a trailblazer in the treatment of injured service members, as well as a champion for women’s rights, all of whom are recognized for their exemplary contributions—this medal ranks just below the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the realm of civilian accolades.
Last year, Biden honored twelve individuals who played vital roles in defending the Capitol during the insurrection while protecting the democratic process during the 2020 presidential election.
This year’s acknowledgment of Cheney is particularly striking for Trump, especially since she previously served as a Republican representative from Wyoming before publicly declaring her intention to support Democrat Kamala Harris in the upcoming 2024 presidential election and actively campaigning alongside her.
Unsurprisingly, this has not been well received by Trump. During a segment on NBC’s Meet the Press, he remarked: “Cheney has committed an inexcusable act, similar to Thompson and those in the so-called un-select committee of political miscreants,” alleging, without substantiation, that evidence had been “deleted and destroyed.”
“Frankly, they ought to be imprisoned,” he further asserted.
There are indications that Biden has contemplated granting preemptive pardons to Cheney and others whom Trump has issued threats against.
