Trump Announces Charlie Kirk Will Be Posthumously Awarded The Medal Of Freedom

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is preparing to posthumously award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Speaking at a ceremony honoring the victims of 9/11, the president paid tribute to a friend and influential conservative activist who inspired a generation of young people to turn toward the GOP for the first time in decades. Kirk, 31, was perhaps the greatest asset to Trump in his victory among 18-29-year-olds over former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump’s appearance at the Pentagon served as a reminder about the threats posed both domestically and abroad as Americans anxiously wait to hear about the next mass shooting or attack on U.S. troops by hostile foreign forces. He was joined by First Lady Melania Trump and other administration officials who thanked the service members in attendance at the facility’s courtyard in Arlington, Virginia.

“Before we begin, let me express the horror and grief [that] so many Americans at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk have felt. Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people,” Trump said to start his remarks.

“Our prayers are with his wonderful wife, Erika, and his beautiful children — fantastic people they are,” Trump continued. “We miss him greatly, yet I have no doubt that Charlie’s voice and the courage he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people, will live on.”

No date was announced as to when Kirk may be posthumously honored with the award, but Trump confirmed, “I can only guarantee you one thing: We will have a very big crowd, very, very big.”

Heading back to the White House, Trump told NBC News that he plans to speak with Kirk’s family later on Thursday. The founder of Turning Point USA left behind his wife, Erika, and two young children.

Kirk’s organization counted 3,000 chapters across college campuses in the U.S. In addition, he hosted his own podcast, “The Charlie Kirk Show,” which consistently ranked among the top-rated conservative talk shows, and authored several books.

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Kirk’s death hit close to home for many in the White House who, throughout Wednesday, were seen wiping their eyes and watching looped broadcasts about his assassination. Many of the Gen Z and millennial staffers who fill the building’s hallways came of age under Kirk’s tutelage from afar.

Trump broke the news of Kirk’s death at a Utah hospital, a sign of how closely intertwined their inner circles had become since the election.

Late Thursday night, Vice President J.D. Vance posted a 1,000-word tribute to Kirk on X, where he shared heartbreaking details about how the conservative activist encouraged him to run for office while caring for his young family, a struggle he empathized with as the public face of America’s largest conservative youth organization.