Trump Awards Presidential Medal of Freedom to Late Activist Charlie Kirk
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, calling him one of the “true American heroes” during a ceremony held in the White House Rose Garden. Erika Kirk, the widow of the late activist, accepted the nation’s highest civilian honor on his behalf. A military aide introducing the award stated that the United States honors Kirk as “a martyr for truth and freedom.” Trump, who returned from the Middle East around 3 am Tuesday, remarked to that “I was going to call Erika and say, ‘Erika, could you maybe move it to Friday?'” He stated that it was a “definite” decision to return for the event, which aligned with what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday. “I would not have missed this moment for anything in the world, nothing,” Trump stated. Erika Kirk expressed her gratitude to the president, stating, “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.” Just over a month has passed since Charlie Kirk was killed while addressing an audience at Utah Valley University during his “America Comeback Tour.”
Trump referred to his death as “a horrible, heinous, demonic act of murder,” further stating that “he was assassinated in the prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth.” Sources reports that Vice President JD Vance Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and FBI Director Kash Patel were in attendance at the ceremony. JD Vance, noted as a close friend of Kirk, occupied a seat in the front row, while Erika Kirk conveyed her appreciation to the vice president and his wife for their presence in escorting her husband’s remains back to Washington aboard Air Force Two. In his remarks, Trump acknowledged Kirk for energizing young voters and stated that his efforts played a crucial role in garnering electoral support from younger Americans. The president humorously remarked that without Kirk’s assistance, “former Vice President Kamala Harris might have been in the White House rather than him.”
Sources reported that Trump seized the opportunity to condemn what he characterized as violence from “far-left radicals,” labeling their ideology “the devil’s ideology.” He stated, “Especially in the wake of Charlie’s assassination, our country must have absolutely no tolerance for this radical left, violence, extremism and terror.” However, the available data does not substantiate Trump’s assertions that political violence is mainly carried out by left-wing groups. Trump’s speech also addressed various topics, including his administration’s initiatives to combat crime and his critique of what he referred to as “local mismanagement” of wildfires in Los Angeles. The Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded for “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States,” as well as to world peace and other significant endeavours, has been conferred upon 24 recipients during Trump’s first term, including Babe Ruth, Justice Antonin Scalia, and Elvis Presley. Trump has declared his plan to bestow future awards upon former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former HUD Secretary Ben Carson.
In her acceptance speech, Erika Kirk spoke about her husband’s “fearlessness,” faith, and dedication to freedom, highlighting his “servant’s heart.” She stated, “If the moment had come, he probably would have run for president, but not out of ambition.” He would only have done it if that was something he genuinely believed his country needed from a servant’s heart standpoint. She remembered how her husband frequently prayed for his opponents, which elicited a smile from Trump. During Kirk’s funeral, Trump stated that, in contrast to Kirk, “I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them.” Fighting back tears, Erika shared a poignant moment with their young daughter, who expressed her desire to celebrate her father’s birthday: “She said, ‘Happy birthday, Daddy.’ I would like to present you with a stuffed animal. “I want you to eat a cupcake with ice cream, and I want you to go have a birthday surprise.” In conclusion, Erika Kirk stated, “To live free is the greatest gift, but to die free is the greatest victory.” Happy birthday, my Charlie. Wishing you a joyful Freedom Day.
