US, Oct 15 : President Donald Trump on Tuesday posthumously awarded conservative activist Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, describing him as one of the nation’s “true American heroes”. The ceremony took place in the White House Rose Garden, coinciding with what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday.
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, who currently serves as CEO of Turning Point USA, accepted the country’s highest civilian honour on his behalf. A military aide introducing the award described Kirk as “a martyr for truth and freedom.”
Trump, who returned from the Middle East early Tuesday morning, emphasized his determination to attend the event despite his travel schedule. “I would not have missed this moment for anything in the world, nothing,” he said.
Erika Kirk thanked the president, saying, “Thank you, Mr. President, for honoring my husband in such a profound and meaningful way, and thank you for making this event a priority amid the peace process in the Middle East.”
Charlie Kirk was killed just over a month ago while speaking at Utah Valley University during his “America Comeback Tour.” Trump called his death “a horrible, heinous, demonic act of murder” and added that Kirk “was assassinated in the prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth.”
The ceremony was attended by notable figures including Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and FBI Director Kash Patel. Vance, a close friend of Kirk, sat in the front row, and Erika Kirk expressed gratitude to him and his wife for accompanying her husband’s remains back to Washington on Air Force Two.
During his remarks, Trump credited Kirk with energizing young voters and noted his influence on electoral support among younger Americans. He also used the platform to denounce violence by what he described as “far left radicals”, calling their ideology “the devil’s ideology.”
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals for an “especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States,” or to world peace and other significant achievements. Trump has previously awarded it to figures such as Babe Ruth, Justice Antonin Scalia, and Elvis Presley, and announced plans to honor Rudy Giuliani and Ben Carson in the future.
In her acceptance speech, Erika Kirk reflected on her husband’s faith, fearlessness, and servant’s heart, noting that he may have run for president one day “only if that was something he believed his country needed from a servant’s heart standpoint.” She also recalled personal moments with her daughter celebrating what would have been Kirk’s birthday.
Closing her remarks, Erika Kirk said, “To live free is the greatest gift, but to die free is the greatest victory. Happy birthday, my Charlie. Happy freedom day.”
The ceremony served both as a tribute to Kirk’s activism and a celebration of his legacy in conservative politics, highlighting his influence on young Americans and dedication to freedom.