Trump honors ‘martyr for truth’ Charlie Kirk with Medal of Freedom
President Trump on Tuesday awarded the nation’s top civilian honor posthumously to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, describing him as a “martyr for truth and for freedom.”
Trump was joined in the Rose Garden by dozens of administration officials to posthumously give the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Kirk, who was killed last month during an event at Utah Valley University.
In lengthy remarks, Trump praised Kirk as a political visionary, while calling his killing a “demonic” act and accusing those on the far-left of having “the devil’s ideology.”
“Today, we’re here to honor and remember a fearless warrior for liberty, 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 said.
Trump signed a proclamation declaring Tuesday a National Day of Remembrance for Kirk, in addition to awarding him the Medal of Freedom. Trump in his second term has also said he was giving the award to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, a brain surgeon and political ally.
Trump called Kirk’s killing a “horrible, heinous, demonic act of murder.”
“He was assassinated in the prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth, for living his truth and for relentlessly fighting for a better and stronger America,” Trump added.
The president called Kirk a “martyr,” likening his legacy to historical figures like Socrates, Saint Peter and Martin Luther King Jr.
Kirk founded the conservative grassroots group Turning Point USA, which has hundreds of chapters on college campuses across the country and led efforts to register and persuade young voters. He would frequently appear on college campuses to debate students on political issues. He was killed during his “Prove Me Wrong” tour.
He was a close ally of the administration and a personal friend of figures like Vice President Vance and Donald Trump Jr.
Kirk’s death set off vows from Trump and other administration officials to crack down on what they deemed left-wing violence and groups that fund it. But critics have expressed concerns that the threats have been vague and could lay the foundation for officials to go after groups they disagree with politically.
Trump on Tuesday claimed “far-left radicals” were resorting to “acts of violence and terror because they know their ideas and arguments are persuading no one.”
“They know that they are failing,” he added. “They have the devil’s ideology.”
As an example of political violence, Trump cited controversial text messages sent by Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones in which he messaged about shooting a political opponent.
Others in attendance on Tuesday included Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, Donald Trump Jr., Vance, Fox News hosts Sean Hannity, Jesse Watters and Laura Ingraham, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and several administration officials.
Erika Kirk addressed attendees after Trump spoke and after a military aide read the citation awarding her late husband with the Medal of Freedom.
Tuesday would have been Charlie Kirk’s 32nd birthday. Erika Kirk recounted their annual tradition on her late husband’s birthday of having mint chocolate chip ice cream.
“Today we’re gathered not only to celebrate Charlie’s birthday, but to honor a truth that he gave his entire life to defend. And that’s freedom,” Erika Kirk said.
Many Kirk allies had suggested he may have one day run for president, and Erika Kirk confirmed as much in her remarks.
Erika Kirk said her late husband “probably would have run for president” if he thought his country needed it.
“If the moment had come, he probably would have run for president, but not out of ambition,” Erika Kirk said. “He would only have done it if that was something he believed that his country needed.”