List of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients

However, the first recipients selected by President John F. Kennedy before his assassination were formally awarded by his successor in office, Lyndon B.

[4] Two people, Ellsworth Bunker and Colin Powell, are two-time recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Eight Presidents have themselves received the medal either posthumously, post-presidency, or prior to being elected: In 2015, President Barack Obama stated that there was no precedent to revoke a Presidential Medal of Freedom, regarding the award given to stand-up comedian and actor Bill Cosby.

In 2022 at the age of 25, athlete and activist Simone Biles became the youngest person to receive the award.

[8] Bill Belichick, coach of the New England Patriots, was offered the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump, and initially accepted it, but changed his mind and turned down the medal after the January 6 United States Capitol attack.