Trump awards highest US civilian honour to Tiger Woods
Washington: US President Donald Trump on Monday bestowed Tiger Woods with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honour, describing the golfer as "one of the greatest athletes in the history of sports."
Woods, 43, is only the fourth and the youngest golfer ever to have received the highest American civilian award. Calling Woods, "a global symbol of American excellence, devotion and drive," the president said, "Tiger's determination and work ethic drove golf to new heights of athletic competition and popularity."
In his remarks, Trump praised Woods as "one of the greatest athletes in the history of sports." Trump said, "we were in the presence of a true legend" who is "also a great person, a great guy". "We can't wait to see what's next, Tiger," said Trump, an avid golfer and owner of several golf courses around the world.
Woods choked up as he thanked his mother, his two children, his girlfriend and his caddy during the ceremony on Monday in the White House Rose Garden.
"You've seen the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, and I would not be in this position without all of your help," Woods said, who dominated the sport for more than a decade.
He won his first major in nearly 11 years at last month's Masters Tournament, a comeback that captivated the sporting world. Woods's Masters victory was his 15th major championship, during which he weathered a marital infidelity scandal that ended in divorce, a debilitating spine injury, an addiction to prescription painkillers and grave doubts about his athletic longevity.
Trump has long been a fan and recently, a business partner of Woods. He announced his decision to give the award to Woods in a tweet, after Woods won the Masters tournament last month, his first major title since the 2008 US Open, capping a remarkable comeback from personal turmoil and physical injuries.
Trump praised Woods' "relentless will to win, win, win". "These qualities embody the American spirit of pushing boundaries and defying limits," Trump said.
The president seemed particularly impressed by what he called "record setting ratings" on television. He noted that Woods has now won 81 PGA tournaments and the second most majors.
He also praised him as a "devoted philanthropist," noting, "That's how I first met Tiger." He added, "We are inspired by everything you've become." Woods was given standing ovation in the Rose Garden of the White House.
According to ESPN, Woods is the 33rd sports figure and the fourth golfer to be honoured with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. At the age of 43, he is by far the youngest living sports figure to be honoured.
The other golfers were Arnold Palmer, 74, in 2004; Jack Nicklaus, 65, in 2005; and Charlie Sifford, 92, in 2014. Sifford was the first African American to play on the PGA tour. Woods burst onto the professional golf scene in 1996 at age 20 and has won 15 Majors titles, second only to Nicklaus' 18 wins.
The Medal of Freedom is America's highest honour for civilian accomplishment. President Truman first established the medal to honour extraordinary civilian accomplishments related to World War II. President Kennedy re-established the medal by executive order in 1963.
Presidents can award the medal of freedom to any person, living or dead, who has made "an especially meritorious contribution" to the security or national interest of the United States, world peace, or to a significant public or private endeavour.
Presidents typically award the medal of freedom in groups during public ceremonies. It cannot be revoked. Notable past recipients include Walter Cronkite, Chuck Yeager, Colin Powell, Bill Gates, Muhammad Ali, Hank Aaron, and Warren Buffett.
In November 2018, President Trump awarded the Medal of Freedom to Roger Staubach, Miriam Adelson, Babe Ruth, and Elvis Presley, among others.
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Odisha: Three arrested for allegedly assaulting tribal women over conversion suspicion
Bhubaneshwar: A day after Christmas, on December 26, two tribal women were allegedly tied to a tree and beaten by a mob in the Remuna area of Odisha's Balasore district. The women, accused of attempting to convert a Hindu man to Christianity, were subjected to humiliation and violence, as captured in a viral video that brought the incident to light, reported The Wire.
The victims, identified as Subhasini Singh and Sukanti Singh, were reportedly targeted after visiting Chhankhanpur hamlet in Mukhura village. Subhasini, a Christian from Makhpada village in Nilgiri, allegedly came to meet Gobind Singh, a Hindu tribal man, with the intention of persuading him to convert to Christianity. Sukanti, a local resident and Hindu, was accused of facilitating the visit.
In the video, the women are seen tied to a tree, surrounded by a hostile crowd. One man's remarks accusing them of "destroying Hindu religion and culture" and chants of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and "Jai Shri Ram" underscore the mob's fury. Subhasini's face was smeared with a cake, which locals claimed had been brought to celebrate a religious conversion.
Subas Mallick, Inspector-in-Charge of Remuna police station, confirmed the incident and said the mob had also humiliated Gobind Singh for his alleged intent to convert. Four individuals, Bapin Nayak, Pitambar Biswal, Prashant Nayak, and Badal Panda—were detained in connection with the assault. Cases have been registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) addressing assault and prevention of atrocities against scheduled tribes, as well as under the Odisha Freedom of Religion Act, 1967, which prohibits forced or induced religious conversions.
However, police later released the detainees after they reportedly expressed regret and reached an "understanding" with the victims. Gobind Singh also allegedly apologized for his intent to change his faith. Despite this, two separate cases remain under investigation.
Reactions to the incident have highlighted concerns about rising vigilantism and threats to vulnerable communities. Odisha Congress spokesperson Amiya Pandab condemned the attack as a shameful reflection of the state’s law and order situation, particularly against tribal women. Former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Latika Pradhan criticized what she called "vigilante justice," emphasizing that any alleged illegal conversions should be dealt with by law rather than mob action.
The incident has also reignited discussions about communal tensions in Odisha. Balasore, represented in the Lok Sabha by former Union Minister Pratap Sarangi, borders Mayurbhanj, the home district of President Draupadi Murmu, and Keonjhar, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi’s constituency. Both leaders are from tribal communities, underscoring the gravity of such incidents targeting vulnerable groups.
This case comes against the backdrop of Odisha’s history of communal violence, including the 2008 Kandhamal riots, which led to over 30 deaths and widespread displacement of Christians. Then-Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, now leader of the opposition, severed ties with the BJP in 2009, citing concerns over communal discord.
As authorities probe the latest incident, it raises critical questions about the balance between protecting religious freedom and preventing vigilantism.
