New Delhi:

Tesla CEO Elon Musk publicly criticised US President Joe Biden’s decision to honour billionaire philanthropist George Soros with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“A travesty that Biden is giving Soros the Medal of Freedom,” Musk stated bluntly on X.

A travesty that Biden is giving Soros the Medal of Freedom https://t.co/LGvGe8kqKE

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 4, 2025

President Biden announced the recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Saturday, naming 19 individuals whose contributions span politics, philanthropy, sports, and the arts. Soros, a billionaire investor and founder of the Open Society Foundations, was cited for his “focus on global initiatives that strengthen democracy, human rights, education, and social justice,” according to the official White House statement.

Other notable awardees this year include former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, football legend Lionel Messi, and actors Michael J Fox and Denzel Washington, among others.

George Soros’ son Alex Soros collecting the medal on his behalf.
Photo Credit: AFP

Soros’ selection has sparked polarised responses, particularly given his longstanding role as a key donor to Democratic causes and his frequent vilification by Republican politicians. Critics, including Musk and several Republican figures, have framed the honour as politically motivated. President Biden, however, defended the list of recipients as individuals who embody America’s values and contribute to its global standing.

“These nineteen individuals are great leaders who have made extraordinary contributions to our country and the world. They defend the values of America, even when under attack,” Biden stated during the announcement.

The Republican Party has long accused Soros of using his wealth to influence global politics. 

George Soros was at the centre of a political flashpoint in India as well.  

The Winter Session of Parliament witnessed chaos in December as BJP chief JP Nadda accused the Congress of being linked to Soros and his organisations. Mr Nadda claimed that the Congress party was acting as a “tool” of foreign forces to destabilise India, citing alleged ties between party chief leader Sonia Gandhi and Soros-funded initiatives.  

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge refuted the allegations, calling them baseless and accusing the BJP of diverting attention from pressing socio-economic issues in the country. The heated exchange led to multiple adjournments in both houses of Parliament.

Soros’ influence and the controversy surrounding him extend far beyond international borders. His Open Society Foundations have faced pushback in countries like Hungary and Russia, where his initiatives are often painted as foreign interference.

New Delhi:

The BJP on Sunday alleged that former Congress president Sonia Gandhi has links to an organisation financed by the George Soros Foundation and which has backed the idea of Kashmir as an independent nation.

This association shows the influence of foreign entities in India’s internal affairs, the ruling party said in a series of posts on X.

Meanwhile, notwithstanding the US’ dismissal of BJP’s allegations that it is backing attempts to destabilise India, party MP Nishikant Dubey said he would pose 10 questions to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha on the issue.

He said the media portal Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and Hungarian-American businessman have colluded with the Opposition to ruin India’s economy and defame the Modi government.

The BJP said Sonia Gandhi, as the co-president of the Forum of the Democratic Leaders in Asia Pacific (FDL-AP) Foundation, is linked to an organisation financed by the George Soros Foundation.

“Notably, the FDL-AP Foundation has expressed their views that treat Kashmir as a separate entity,” the party said.

“This association between Sonia Gandhi and an organisation that has backed the idea of Kashmir as an independent nation expresses the influence of foreign entities on India’s internal affairs and the political impact of such connections,” it said.

This thread underlines a connection between the Congress party and George Soros, implying their shared goal of diminishing India’s growth.

Sonia Gandhi, as the Co-President of the FDL-AP Foundation, is linked to an organisation financed by the George Soros Foundation.

Notably,… pic.twitter.com/q9mrJ1lY3h

— BJP (@BJP4India) December 8, 2024

The BJP said Sonia Gandhi’s chairmanship of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation led to a partnership with the George Soros Foundation, “displaying the influence of foreign funding on Indian organisations”.

“Rahul Gandhi’s press conference on Adani was live telecast by George Soros-funded OCCRP, which Gandhi used as a source to criticise Adani. It shows nothing but their strong and dangerous relationship and highlights their attempts to derail the Indian economy.

“Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has publicly acknowledged George Soros as an ‘old friend’. It’s something truly noteworthy,” the BJP said.

The BJP’s allegations come after it said on Thursday the US “deep state” colluded with OCCRP and Rahul Gandhi to damage India’s image.

The US on Saturday rejected BJP’s allegations that organisations funded by its State Department and elements in the American “deep state” were behind attempts to destabilise India through targeted attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and businessman Gautam Adani.

A spokesperson at the US embassy described the allegations as “disappointing” and said the US government has been a champion of media freedom around the world.

Reacting to the US embassy’s statement, Mr Dubey said, “Yesterday I read the statement of the US embassy officials again and again. They admitted that the US government funds OCCRP and Soros’ foundation also funds it.”

The job of OCCRP and Soros is to ruin India’s economy and defame the Modi government in connivance with opposition leaders, he said in his post on X in Hindi.

“After yesterday’s statement, I will have to ask Rahul Gandhi my 10 questions in the Lok Sabha. The opposition is trying to suppress my voice in Parliament. Lok Sabha Rule 357 gives me the right to ask questions. Waiting for tomorrow,” the BJP MP said.

The BJP has cited Rahul Gandhi’s use of OCCRP reports to attack the Adani Group.

“It’s disappointing that the ruling party in India would make these kinds of accusations,” the US embassy spokesperson said on Saturday. “The US government works with independent organisations on programming that supports professional development and capacity building training for journalists. This programming does not influence the editorial decisions or direction of these organisations,” the official said.

OCCRP, headquartered in Amsterdam, is a media platform that largely focuses on stories relating to crime and corruption.