US President Donald Trump posthumously awarded Charlie Kirk, activist and publicist, the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Trump posthumously awarded Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom
The ceremony took place in the recently renovated Rose Garden of the White House. Kirk’s widow, Erica, accepted the award.
During his speech, Trump called Kirk “a courageous fighter for freedom,” “a leader who inspired a new generation,” and a true American patriot. The president added that he had flown in from the Middle East specifically to present the award on Kirk’s birthday, although he had initially considered asking his widow to postpone the ceremony, but decided against it.
How Charlie Kirk Died
Charlie Kirk was wounded on September 10 during a debate at the University of Utah: gunfire opened on him while he was speaking. Immediately after the incident, Kirk and his security detail were taken to the hospital, where he died shortly afterward.
Police initially detained a suspect, but he was found not to be involved. The following day, September 11, Tyler Robinson surrendered to authorities and was arrested. He was denied bail and taken to the Utah County Jail.
Who is Charlie Kirk?
Charles James “Charlie” Kirk was born in 1993 in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. He was a well-known conservative activist, columnist, and media personality. In 2012, Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA), which became the largest student conservative movement in the United States, with thousands of campuses and millions of followers on social media.
Kirk regularly appeared on Fox News and other conservative platforms, positioning himself as a critic of the Republican Party. He openly opposed US military aid to Ukraine and sharply criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of unwillingness to end the war with Russia.
