Look at the recent history on who has gotten then.
Obama gave it to Robert De Niro for Lands Sakes.
Here is the list of Sports figures who have received it:
Arnold Palmer, 2004
Frank Robinson, 2005
Recipient Year Sport President Notes
Robert J. H. Kiphuth 1963 Swimming John F. Kennedy
Jesse Owens 1976 Track Gerald Ford [96]
Joe DiMaggio 1977 Baseball Gerald Ford [34]
Paul “Bear” Bryant 1983 Football Ronald Reagan Posthumous
Jackie Robinson 1984 Baseball Ronald Reagan Posthumous[97]
Earl Blaik 1986 Football Ronald Reagan
Ted Williams 1991 Baseball George H. W. Bush
Richard Petty 1992 Auto racing George H. W. Bush
Arthur Ashe 1993 Tennis Bill Clinton Posthumous[98]
Hank Aaron 2002 Baseball George W. Bush
John Wooden 2003 Basketball George W. Bush
Roberto Clemente 2003 Baseball George W. Bush Posthumous
Arnold Palmer 2004 Golf George W. Bush
Jack Nicklaus 2005 Golf George W. Bush
Muhammad Ali 2005 Boxing George W. Bush
Frank Robinson 2005 Baseball George W. Bush
Buck O’Neil 2006 Baseball George W. Bush
Billie Jean King 2009 Tennis Barack Obama [21]
Bill Russell 2011 Basketball Barack Obama [4]
Stan Musial 2011 Baseball Barack Obama [4]
Pat Summitt 2012 Basketball Barack Obama [32]
Dean Smith 2013 Basketball Barack Obama [36]
Ernie Banks 2013 Baseball Barack Obama [99]
Charles Sifford 2014 Golf Barack Obama [22]
Yogi Berra 2015 Baseball Barack Obama Posthumous[28]
Willie Mays 2015 Baseball Barack Obama [28]
Vin Scully 2016 Baseball Barack Obama [11]
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 2016 Basketball Barack Obama [11]
Michael Jordan 2016 Basketball Barack Obama [11]
Babe Ruth 2018 Baseball Donald Trump Posthumous[100]
Roger Staubach 2018 Football Donald Trump [101]
Alan Page 2018 Football Donald Trump [102]
Tiger Woods 2019 Golf Donald Trump [103]
So it seems “trophies for all” isn’t limited just to little league baseball.
Yeah, not too many are familiar with this medal or the reasons why it might be awarded:
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded by the President of the United States for especially meritorious contribution to:
1) The security or national interests of the United States
2) World peace
3) Cultural or other significant public or private endeavors