Biden caught awkwardly holding Liz Cheney’s hand and not letting it go as she's given presidential medal

WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden had an "awkward" moment as he honored Liz Cheney, the former Republican congresswoman from Wyoming, with the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second-highest civilian medal, on Thursday, January 2.

The 58-year-old attorney served as vice chair of the House January 6 Committee and also supported Vice President Kamala Harris when she was running for the White House.

In October 2024, she even said, “You should do what you think is right. And I think you're going to have, frankly, a lot of men and women who will go into the voting booth and will vote their conscience and will vote for Vice President Harris. They may not ever say anything publicly but the results will speak for themselves,” as per CBS News.

Joe Biden doesn't let go of Liz Cheney during award ceremony

As Joe Biden presented Liz Cheney with the Presidential Citizens Medal, he reportedly gripped her hand for too long, while the announcer said Liz Cheney was honored “for putting the American people over party. 

However, when the politician seemingly moved to go back to her seat, the 82-year-old leader pulled her back and the two continued to pose for more photos together.

Liz Cheney was one among 20 Americans who were awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal in the East Room, as reported by Daily Mail.

As per the outlet, when Cheney's name was announced, the audience began cheering for her. She also received a standing ovation from the people present in the East Room.

Joe Biden awards Presidential Citizens Medal

During the ceremony, the outgoing president said, as per AP News, “Together, you embody the central truth: We’re a great nation because we’re a good people.”

“Our democracy begins and ends with the duties of citizenship. That’s our work for the ages and it’s what all of you embody,” he added.

Other people who were awarded were Representative Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi), who was the chair of the January 6 committee; former Sen Ted Kaufman (D-Del); NBA champion and former Sen Bill Bradley (D-NJ); former Sen Chris Dodd (D-Conn); and former Army nurse Diane Carlson Evans.

Donald Trump said Liz Cheney should go to jail

President-elect Donald Trump had slammed Liz Cheney during an interview with NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’ in early December.

He said, as reported by The Guardian, “Cheney did something that’s inexcusable, along with [Bennie] Thompson and the people on the … committee of political thugs and, you know, creeps.”

The incoming president went on to allege, “They deleted and destroyed all evidence,” before asserting, “For what they did, honestly, they should go to jail.”

The daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney then fired back, saying, “This was the worst breach of our Constitution by any president in our nation’s history.”

“Donald Trump’s suggestion that members of Congress who later investigated his illegal and unconstitutional actions should be jailed is a continuation of his assault on the rule of law and the foundations of our republic,” she added.