President Joe Biden is set to award former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) the Presidential Citizens Medal, one of the highest civilian honors in the nation.
As reported by The Independent Journal Review, the ceremony, slated for Thursday, will recognize Cheney among 20 recipients chosen because they “performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens,” according to a White House statement.
The decision to honor Cheney, a controversial figure within the Republican Party, has raised eyebrows in conservative circles. Cheney, who served as vice chair of the January 6 committee, lost her congressional seat in 2022 after outspokenly opposing then-President Donald Trump.
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The White House praised Cheney for her bipartisan work and commitment to defending democratic ideals.
“Throughout two decades in public service, including as a congresswoman for Wyoming and vice chair of the committee on the Jan. 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. Her integrity and intrepidness remind us all what is possible if we work together,” the White House said.
This award comes as no surprise to those familiar with Biden’s long history of fostering relationships across party lines. In fact, many of the medal recipients have personal ties to the president, including Ted Kaufman and Christopher J. Dodd, two close advisers Biden has known for decades.
Kaufman, 85, played a significant role in Biden’s early Senate career, serving as his chief of staff.
Dodd, a former Democratic senator from Connecticut, assisted Biden in selecting his running mate during the 2020 election. Biden has referred to Dodd as his “single best friend” in Congress.
The decision to honor Cheney has sparked heated debate on social media, with critics on X (formerly Twitter) questioning whether her work truly merits such recognition.
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In a move that reeks of partisanship, President Joe Biden has decided to award the Presidential Citizens Medal to Rep. Bennie Thompson and former Rep. Liz Cheney for… pic.twitter.com/8dVfaGvRlI
— MAGA Resource (@MAGAResource) January 2, 2025
Liz Cheney will always live with an asterisk next to her name.
She is a war pig. https://t.co/Ew85Xu9kns
— Completely Fed Up (@CompletelyUp) January 2, 2025
Joe Biden is awarding Liz Cheney and other J6 committee members the Freedom Medal.
How ironic would it be if Liz received the Freedom medal, then was indicted and lost her freedom all in the same month or year? pic.twitter.com/qtWZUeBcJu
— Roscoe Smith IV (@LoneStarLegendX) January 2, 2025
Biden giving Liz Cheney an award for her traitorous January 6th persecution of Americans is an absolute slap in the face to patriotic Americans. It would be nice to see President Trump rescind it publicly.
— William Lincoln (@lin95981) January 2, 2025
Many conservatives view Cheney as a divisive figure, arguing that her alignment with Democrats during the January 6 investigation undermined her party and alienated her constituents.
The award highlights a broader trend of Biden celebrating figures who have publicly opposed Trump or supported his administration’s priorities. Critics argue that this approach politicizes what should be an impartial recognition of civic contributions.
While Biden’s allies hail Cheney as a symbol of bipartisanship and integrity, her critics see this honor as another attempt by the administration to prop up individuals who align with their narrative.
For conservatives, it’s yet another reminder of the growing disconnect between the Republican base and establishment figures like Cheney.
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