Staff Reports
In yet another episode of political theater, President Biden has decided to award the Presidential Citizens Medal to Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson, the dynamic duo known for their enthusiastic leap into the January 6th Capitol riot investigation. It seems this administration is still reveling in the past while trying to rebrand its own narrative. Cheney, the former Wyoming Republican who decided to switch her loyalties to the Democratic camp, and Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, are to be honored for what many conservatives might see as little more than political posturing.
This elaborate ceremony at the White House will bring together 20 medal recipients, but Cheney and Thompson are undoubtedly headlining the show. Biden and his team justify this choice by claiming these individuals exemplify “common decency and commitment to serving others.” This is rich coming from an administration that has seemingly spent more time rewarding those who challenge the norms of civil discourse rather than those who uphold them. In a world where truth is often sacrificed for political convenience, the timing of these medals raises eyebrows among those who value genuine service over agenda-driven recognition.
When Biden’s administration last year honored individuals for their roles in defending the Capitol, it was clear that this was just a continuation of an ongoing narrative that paints Trump supporters as villains while elevating the status of those who participated in the relentless investigations into the former president. Cheney’s recent backing of Kamala Harris for the 2024 election only adds a bit more seasoning to this curious stew of political alliances. Many conservative Americans are shaking their heads at the notion that people who actively campaigned against key principles of the Republican Party are now being celebrated left and right.
Trump, who has always been vocal about his views on those who led this investigation, is likely not amused by these developments. He has made his thoughts on Cheney and Thompson clear, suggesting that their actions were “inexcusable” and should land them behind bars—though it’s Biden who seems intent on handing them medals instead. There’s a certain irony in Biden contemplating pardons for individuals like Cheney while routinely dismissing the concerns of the very constituents who once rallied behind her—before she bid farewell to common sense.
President Biden is bestowing the second-highest civilian medal on Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson — the lawmakers who led the congressional investigation into the violent Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot by Donald Trump's supporters, and who Trump has… https://t.co/ZveJLVP0kN
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) January 2, 2025
The other recipients of the medal include a heady mix of social justice warriors and established political figures, from marriage equality pioneers to Vietnam War nurses. While many of these individuals undoubtedly made contributions to society, the selection process for the awards does seem skewed toward those with liberal credentials. Those who promote the Biden administration’s progressive agenda are fawned over while conservative efforts are often drowned out by the sounds of self-congratulatory back-slapping within elite circles. In a nation built on diverse viewpoints, it’s troubling to see such a lack of balance in recognition.
The Presidential Citizens Medal, established by Richard Nixon, was meant to recognize exemplary deeds, but there has been a noticeable shift over the years. Now, it often seems to reward political allies rather than genuine service. Amidst this backdrop, conservative America looks on, bemused and critical, as the White House continues to issue medals like candy, celebrating those who align more closely with its narrative while sidelining those who would argue for a different approach to governance and civil discourse. This trend only deepens the divide in the already tumultuous political landscape and raises the question of who truly deserves celebration in today’s American society.
