Trump Posthumously Awards Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump posthumously honored conservative commentator Charlie Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during an event in the White House Rose Garden on Oct. 14.

“Today, we’re here 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 said during the first official event in the newly redesigned Rose Garden Club, renovated by the president to include a large concrete patio, presidential walk of fame, gold embellishments, and other decorations.

Kirk’s family gathered for the ceremony on what would have been Charlie Kirk’s 32nd birthday.

“Charlie always admired your commitment to freedom, and that’s something that both of you shared, so thank you,” his wife, Erika Kirk, told the president. “Your support of our family and the work that Charlie devoted his life to is something that I will cherish forever.”

She expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from around the world and told the chapters of Turning Point USA, the organization founded by her husband, that Kirk’s legacy is in their hands.

God initiated a “mighty work” through her husband that will continue in the hearts and minds of people around the world, she said, while honoring his memory.

“To live free is the greatest gift, but to die free is the greatest victory,” she said.

“Happy Birthday, my Charlie. Happy freedom day.”

Turning back to Trump, she offered appreciation for the ceremony.

“I can say with confidence, Mr. President, that you have given him the best birthday gift he could ever have,” she said.

“It’s such an honor and the recognition of a life lived for defending freedom, and that’s what Charlie fought for until his last breath, and it was written across his chest in those final moments.”

She was referring to the white t-shirt with the word “freedom” emblazoned on the front that Charlie Kirk was wearing when he was killed.

The conservative commentator was assassinated on Sept. 10 while speaking to students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

“Five weeks ago, our nation was robbed of this extraordinary champion,” Trump said.

“It was a horrible, heinous, demonic act of murder. He was assassinated in the prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth, for living his faith and relentlessly fighting for a better and stronger America.”

Suspected shooter Tyler Robinson is in custody and has been charged with Kirk’s murder.

“Charlie’s murder was not just an attack on one man or one movement—it was an attack on our entire nation,” Trump said during a memorial ceremony in Arizona in September. “It was an assault on our most sacred liberties and God-given rights.”

The president described the killing as a threat to the world.

“The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at all of us,” Trump said.

“Indeed, Charlie was killed for expressing the very ideas that virtually everyone in this arena, and most other places throughout our country, deeply believe in. But the assassin failed in his quest—because Charlie’s message has not been silenced, it now is bigger and better and stronger than ever before, and it’s not even close.”

Trump ordered all U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff after Kirk was killed.

Members of Congress in the Senate and the House of Representatives also passed resolutions recognizing Oct. 14 as a “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk,” emphasizing his leadership and efforts to inspire public service.

Proud History

Considered the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is the U.S. government’s highest civilian honor, awarded to recognize a lifetime of significant achievements.

Awardees receive a medal with a white star positioned over a red pentagon, surrounded by five gold eagles. A blue circle in the middle of the star contains 13 gold stars.

The award was originally created by President Harry S. Truman in 1945. President John F. Kennedy added “presidential” to the title in 1963.

Since Kennedy’s change, 670 individuals and one group have received 673 medals. Businessman and ambassador Ellsworth Bunker and former Secretary of State Colin Powell have won two each, and the Apollo 13 Mission Operations Team was recognized with the medal in 1970.

Trump awarded 24 of the medals during his first term, including to Tiger Woods and posthumously to Elvis Presley and Babe Ruth.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick accepted and then declined Trump’s offer of the award in 2021. Country music legend Dolly Parton twice refused the medal from Trump during his first term, and refused a third offer from President Joe Biden during his term in office.

Trump has announced his intention to add former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to the historic list of recipients and to make neurosurgeon and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson a two-time award winner.

The medal is given in two levels, with the more prestigious labeled “with distinction.” Only 56 awardees, about 8 percent of the total, received the highest honor.

President Barack Obama’s 118 awarded medals top the list of those distributed by a president, followed by President Bill Clinton’s 89.