President Donald Trump on Tuesday is posthumously awarding conservative activist Charlie Kirk the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The ceremony is happening within the newly-renovated White Home Rose Backyard.
“Right now, we’re right here to honor and keep in mind a fearless warrior for liberty, a beloved chief who galvanized the subsequent technology like no one have ever seen earlier than, and an American patriot of the deepest conviction, the best high quality and the very best caliber: the late, nice, Charlie Kirk,” Trump stated.
“5 weeks in the past, our nation was robbed of this extraordinary champion,” Trump stated.
President Donald Trump speaks earlier than posthumously awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk within the Rose Backyard of the White Home, Oct. 14, 2025, in Washington.
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Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10 whereas talking at Utah Valley College on the primary cease of his The American Comeback Tour, which invited school college students to debate hot-button points.
Trump was the primary to announce later that day that Kirk had died, and the subsequent day stated he could be be awarding Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom as he hailed the Turning Level USA founder “an enormous of his technology.”
Turning Level USA co-founder Charlie Kirk stands at the back of the room as Donald Trump speaks throughout a swearing in ceremony within the Oval Workplace of the White Home on Could 28, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Photos
Oct. 14 is Kirk’s birthday. He would have turned 32. The Home and Senate beforehand approved a resolution to mark the date as a “Nationwide Day of Remembrance.”
The medal ceremony comes after Trump returned again to Washington within the early hours of Tuesday morning from a visit to the Center East to have a good time a ceasefire settlement between Israel and Hamas that he helped dealer.
Trump stated he contemplating calling Kirk’s spouse, Erika, to maneuver the occasion to later this week however stated he determined to not after realizing it was Kirk’s birthday.
Erika Kirk, spouse of late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, arrives with President Donald Trump as he posthumously awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk within the Rose Backyard of the White Home, Oct. 14, 2025 in Washington.
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Vice President JD Vance sits along with his spouse Usha Vance previous to a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony within the Rose Backyard of the White Home on October 14, 2025 in Washington.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photos
The president and Erika Kirk beforehand shared a heartfelt second on stage at Kirk’s memorial service in Arizona, hugging after Trump’s closing remarks and after Erika Kirk stated she’d forgiven her husband’s killer.
On Tuesday, Trump recommended Erika Kirk’s “unbelievable energy” and recounted a narrative he stated Charlie Kirk informed him of once they met.
“We are going to all the time be right here for you. And we’re all the time going to be right here in your attractive, stunning youngsters,” Trump stated. Kirk is survived by his spouse and their two younger youngsters.
“We’ll always remember what your loved ones has sacrificed for our nation,” Trump stated.
Kirk was influential in building Trump’s movement and was significantly influential amongst younger conservatives. He was a key ally to Trump and a pal to many inside his administration.
“We’re getting into his title without end into the everlasting roster of true American heroes. He is a real American hero, a tremendous particular person,” Trump stated.
