President Biden announced Khizr Khan, along with 16 other recipients, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Khan, a Pakistani American and Gold Star father, became a household name in 2016 after criticizing a then-presidential candidate Donald Trump over his proposal to limit immigration from countries with a Muslim majority.
Other Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients include former Senator John McCain, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, and Megan Rapinoe.
“These seventeen Americans demonstrate the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation – hard work, perseverance, and faith,” the White House said in a statement. “They have overcome significant obstacles to achieve impressive accomplishments in the arts and sciences, dedicated their lives to advocating for the most vulnerable among us, and acted with bravery to drive change in their communities — and across the world — while blazing trails for generations to come.
Khan is also the founder of the Constitution Literacy and National Unity Center and has become an advocate for religious freedom. Under President Biden he served on the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.
The award will be presented to recipients at the White House on Thursday, July 7.
AsAmNews is incorporated in the state of California as Asian American Media, Inc and has an application for non-profit 501c3 status with the IRS pending. Check out our Instagram account. Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff, or submitting a story, or making a financial contribution. We are committed to the highest ethical standards in journalism. Please report any typos or errors to info at AsAmNews dot com.