Joe Biden is getting in at least one more snub in against Donald Trump with just 18 days left in his presidency.
The president is awarding former Rep. Liz Cheney and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) the second highest civilian honor.
The Presidential Citizens Medals are being given to Cheney and Thompson for their leadership on the congressional investigation into the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
Trump’s senior adviser Jason Miller called the selection for the awards ‘pathetic.’
‘With attacks happening in the United States and around the world, THIS is how Biden is spending his time today?’ Miller wrote on X.
He was referencing the two acts of violence on New Year’s Day.
First, a suspect drove a car through a crowd in New Orleans before opening fire and killing 15.
Just hours later a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, killing one and injuring seven.
Biden is awarding a total of 20 people with the medals during a White House ceremony on Thursday.
The list includes Americans who fought for marriage equality and civil rights, a pioneer for rescuing and treating wounded soldiers, as well as two of the president’s longtime friends, and former Senators Ted Kaufman (D-Del) and Chris Dodd (D-Conn.).
‘President Biden believes these Americans are bonded by their common decency and commitment to serving others,’ the White House said in a statement on the awards.
‘The country is better because of their dedication and sacrifice.’
Last year Biden’s honorees included people involved in defending the Capitol from rioters.
Cheney quickly became one of Trump’s most prominent foes in Congress after the Republican voted to impeach him and then agreed to co-lead the House January 6 Select Committee probe.
‘Throughout two decades in public service, including as a Congresswoman for Wyoming and Vice Chair of the Committee on the January 6 attack, Liz Cheney has raised her voice—and reached across the aisle—to defend our Nation and the ideals we stand for: Freedom. Dignity. And decency,’ Biden wrote of his decision to award the medal to the former lawmaker.
‘Her integrity and intrepidness remind us all what is possible if we work together,’ he added.
While she has not changed party affiliation from Republican, Cheney campaigned for Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in her ultimately unsuccessful White House bid against Trump.
President-elect Trump has vowed to pardon January 6 prisoners on his first day in office this month. He also said that Cheney and the other eight panel members should be jailed for their investigation that found him at fault for the Capitol attack.
Trump said previously during an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press: ‘Cheney did something that’s inexcusable, along with Thompson and the people on the un-select committee of political thugs and, you know, creeps,’ claiming without evidence they ‘deleted and destroyed’ testimony they collected.’
‘Honestly, they should go to jail,’ he added.
Other than Cheney, former Rep. Adam Kinzinger was the only other Republican on the committee.
The Democratic members of the select committee included Chairman Thompson, Reps. Zoe Lofgren (Calif.), Adam Schiff (Calif.), Pete Aguilar (Calif.), Jamie Raskin (Md.), and former Reps. Stephanie Murphy of Florida and Elaine Luria of Virginia.
Biden is reportedly weighing whether he would give preemptive pardons to Cheney, Thompson and the other January 6 panel members amid suggestions Trump will target them in his second term.