President George W. Bush awarded Muhammad Ali the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. Ali received the nation’s highest civilian honor at a White House ceremony on November 9, 2005, recognizing his achievements in boxing and his broader influence on civil rights, humanitarian work, and international diplomacy.
The medal came after decades in which Ali had become far more than a sports champion. His refusal to enter the U.S. Army in 1967 cost him several years of his boxing career, but it also made him a global symbol of religious conviction and opposition to the Vietnam War. After returning to the ring, he became the first three-time heavyweight champion and one of the most recognizable athletes in history.
Ali’s Presidential Medal of Freedom is sometimes confused with the Presidential Citizens Medal he received from President Bill Clinton in 2001. Those are separate honors. The 2005 ceremony also included other prominent recipients, including Aretha Franklin, Robert Conquest, and Alan Greenspan. Ali later received additional international awards for peace and humanitarian efforts.