US President Joe Biden, who regularly touts his Irish roots, got his Irish up for what could be the last time before he exits the White House this month by awarding Bono the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Bono, the Dublin-native frontman of rock band U2, was acknowledged during the ceremony on January 4 for "changing the world through his art and activism."
"In an Irish tradition of poetry and protest, rebellion and rejoicing, he has composed anthems to peace and civil rights," the audience heard during the award presentation at the White House on Saturday.
The mention of "Irish tradition" prompted President Biden to offer a slight fist bump, drawing some chuckles from the crowd.
Bono's citation concluded: "The common beat of his life's work is the power of freedom, a tie that also binds Ireland and America as beloved friends."
The White House says the Presidential Medal of Freedom is “the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.”
Bono was honored for being "a pioneering activist against AIDS and poverty," the White House said.
It added: "He brought together politicians from opposing parties to create the United States PEPFAR AIDS program, and is co-founder of campaigning organizations ONE and (RED)."
The Irish rocker, real name Paul Hewson, was among 19 recipients of this year's Presidential Medal of Freedom. He joined José Andrés, Ashton Baldwin Carter (posthumous), Hillary Rodham Clinton, Michael J. Fox, Tim Gill, Jane Goodall, Fannie Lou Hamer (posthumous), Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Robert Francis Kennedy (posthumous), Ralph Lauren, Lionel Messi, William Sanford Nye, George W. Romney (posthumous), David M. Rubenstein, George Soros, George Stevens, Jr., Denzel Washington, and Anna Wintour.
It was Biden's last time presenting the Medal of Freedom, an award he received in 2017 as Vice President during the Obama administration.
On social media on Saturday, Bono thanked Biden for the honor, adding "rock n roll gave me my freedom."
Thank you President Biden. Frontmen don’t do humble, but today I was. Rock n roll gave me my freedom… and with it the privilege to work alongside those who’ve had to fight so much harder for theirs. And I want to give it up for my band mates - Edge, Adam, and Larry - without… pic.twitter.com/g08QiD2dAf
— U2 (@U2) January 4, 2025
The same day, The Atlantic published an opinion piece penned by Bono in which he reflected on the notion of freedom.
The Irish rocker, who has been outspoken on so many other global issues, has been criticized in recent months for not being as vocal about the situation in Gaza where, according to UNRWA, at least 45,541 Palestinians have reportedly been killed and 108,338 have been injured as of December 30.
Addressing Gaza for his piece in The Atlantic, Bono wrote: "Israel’s prime minister for almost 20 years, Benjamin Netanyahu, has often used the defense of Israel’s freedom and its people as an excuse to systematically deny the same freedom and security to the Palestinians—a self-defeating and deadly contradiction, which has led to an obscene leveling of civilian life that the world can visualize daily on their cellphones.
"Freedom must come for the Israeli hostages, whose kidnapping by Hamas ignited this latest cataclysm.
"Freedom must come for the Palestinian people. It does not take a prophet to predict Israel will never be free until Palestine is free.
"Freedom is complex and demanding."
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