Biden awards Trump critic Liz Cheney and others with Presidential Citizens Medal

Former US congresswoman Liz Cheney, who bucked her Republican Party to strongly criticise President-elect Donald Trump and some of his allies, was one of 20 people awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal, one of the country’s highest civilian honours, by President Joe Biden on Thursday.

The medal is given to Americans for their service to the country or its citizens, the White House said.

Biden, speaking in the East Room of the White House, praised the honorees for courage, leadership, service and empathy.

“I think it’s pretty damn simple: our democracy begins and ends with the duties of citizenship,” he said. “Our work continues.”