Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro & More Honored With Presidential Medal Of Freedom — Pics



Aww! President Barack Obama gave out his final round of Medals of Freedom at the White House Nov. 22, and honorees like Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro and more were so moved by the moment. We’ve got pics of all the proud recipients, right here!

It was an A-list scene at the White House Nov. 22 as some of Hollywood’s brightest stars were bestowed with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Oscar winners Tom Hanks, 60, and Robert De Niro, 73, each received the medal and Tom was absolutely beaming as President Obama placed it around his neck. The look on his face showed that no matter how many awards he’s received throughout his amazing career, this honor had to be one of his greatest highlights. Fellow actor Robert Redford, 80, also made the cut this year and glowed with pride.

The music world was well represented at the ceremony as well. National treasure Bruce Springsteen, 67, had a huge and satisfying grin after receiving his honor, while Diana Ross, 72, had to lift up her giant mane of hair for the president to be able to put her medal around her neck, which made both of them crack up laughing.

Our favorite moment was when TV host and comedienne Ellen DeGeneres, 58, received her Medal of Freedom. She burst out in tears of joy after listening to all of her accomplishments being announced, including all of her personal efforts towards equality and gay rights. Another television favorite was recognized when SNL creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels, 72, was honored for his four decades of work on the groundbreaking late night TV show. With his scathing skits about Donald Trump in 2016, there’s no chance at all he would have received this under the next four years of a Trump presidency!

Pics: 2016 Presidential Medal of Freedom honorees

Sports stars were among those getting the nation’s highest civilian honor, including NBA legends Michael Jordan, 53, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 69. We know how much President Obama loves basketball so it must have been a thrill to give out the medals to these two! Bill and Melinda Gates were also recognized for all their amazing philanthropic work on behalf of bettering mankind and finding cures for diseases. What an inspiring class of 2016!

HollywoodLifers, which star do you think was the most deserving of the Medal of Freedom?

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