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JUST IN: President Trump Posthumously Honors Charlie Kirk With The Presidential Medal Of Freedom

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President Donald Trump on Tuesday posthumously awarded the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. The ceremony took place on what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday.

On September 10, Kirk was shot and killed while speaking with college students at Utah Valley University. The alleged gunman, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, allegedly told his male romantic partner that he killed Kirk due to his “hatred” of trans people.

A day after Kirk’s murder, President Trump announced that he would be posthumously awarding Kirk with the prestigious honor. “Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people,” the president said while speaking at a 9/11 memorial event.

On Tuesday, October 14, the White House Rose Garden filled up with cabinet members, senior members of Congress, Turning Point USA executives and more for the ceremony in Kirk’s honor. Prior to the ceremony, the commander in chief signed a proclamation declaring the day as a “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk.”

“Today, our Nation honors the immortal memory of Charlie — a father, a husband, a Christian martyr, and a titan of the American conservative movement. We honor his life, we send our condolences to his beautiful family, and we pledge to advance the values for which he laid down his life,” reads the proclamation.

“Every day, Charlie devoted himself to a set of simple causes: Defending the truth, encouraging debate, and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was gracious and articulate beyond measure, always welcomed opposing perspectives, and never deviated from his noble goal of bridging our political, cultural, and philosophical divides,” the president continued.

“As we mourn this extraordinary loss, my Administration will continue to do everything in its power to end this devastating wave of political violence. No civilized country can endure a culture where open debate is met with gunfire, the pursuit of truth is met with bloodshed, and love of country is met with seething hatred. In Charlie’s absence, we are now tasked with continuing his mission of giving voice to our cherished American ideals with confidence and clarity. Like him, we must not flinch in the face of darkness and hostility — and we must never waver in speaking the truth with joyful and steadfast resolve.”

Shortly after 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, the president emerged from the White House flanked by Charlie’s widow, Erika.

“As you know, only hours ago, I returned from a very historic trip to secure peace in the Middle East. People said that couldn’t be done. Charlie felt it could,” Trump said after noting that he had just returned from Egypt. The president went on to say that he initially considered holding the ceremony on Friday, but knew it was necessary to do it today once he learned that it was Kirk’s birthday.

“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.

The president went on to say that Kirk 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. He loved this country, and that’s why this afternoon, it’s my privilege to posthumously award Charles James Kirk our nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”

At 5:10 p.m. Eastern Time, the president formally presented Kirk with the prestigious honor, which was received by Erika.

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