Trump honors Kirk with Medal of Freedom
By: Bart Jansen
USA Today
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump presented the Medal of Freedom posthumously to Charlie Kirk, a conservative activists who was killed September 10 [2025] during an event in Utah.
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The White House Rose Garden ceremony on October 14 [2025] coincided with what would have been Kirk's 32nd birthday. shortly after his death, both chambers of Congress approved resolutions making the date a National Day of Remembrance.
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"We'll never forget what your husband has sacrificed for our country," Trump said. "Today [10/14/2025] we're hear to honor and remember a fearless warrior for liberty, a beloved leader who galvanized the next generation like nobody I've ever seen before, and an American patriot of the deepest conviction, the finest quality and the highest caliber: the late, great charlie Kirk."
..... Trump presented the award to Kirk's widow, Erika, Kirk who has since become CEO of Turning Point USA, the group her husband co-founded. She wiped tears from her eyes as she stood net to Trump while the citation was read aloud.
..... "Charlie always said the next generation will decide whether freedom endures," Erika Kirk said. "Freedom is the right to live without fear."
..... She said her husband preferred a quiet birthday one of two days a year he would indulge in mint chocolate chip ice cream. (The other day was he Fourth of July.)
..... "Now I can say with confidence Mr. President that you have given him the best birthday gift hat he could ever have," Kirk said. "Their is no limit to what he would have sacrificed for freedom."
..... The president's son, Donald Trump Jr., who worked with Kirk on mobilizing young vot4ers, was among those who attended the event. Vice President JD Vance and members of Trump's cabinet were also there, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Pam Bondi Senate majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, also attended.
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Charlie Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 when he was 18. The nonprofit advocates for conservative politics on high school and college campuses.
..... "It was a horrible, heinous demonic act of murder. He was assassinat4ed in the prime of his life while boldly speaking the truth," Trump said. "Charlie Kirk was a martyr for truth and freedom."
..... Kirk was closely aligned with Trump's Make America Great Again movement and is credited with helping propel the president to the White House through outreach to younger voters.
..... Along with its presence on hundreds of collage and high school campuses, the organization hosts conferences, encourages youth organizing on conservative issues and produces media such as the "The charlie Kirk Show."
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Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested in connection with Kirk's death. he was arraigned on September 16 [2025] on seven felony charges, including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice and witness tampering.