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President Donald Trump said Thursday he will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated during a campus speaking event in Utah a day earlier.
Trump announced the honor during remarks at the Pentagon commemorating the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“Before we begin, let me express the horror and grief so many Americans at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk have felt,” Trump said. “Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people.”
The president offered condolences to Kirk’s wife, Erika, and their children, saying, “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.”
Trump said a date has not yet been set for the medal ceremony but promised “a very big crowd, very, very big.”
White House Reaction
After his speech, Trump told reporters he planned to call Kirk’s family later in the day. Vice President JD Vance and his wife are traveling to Utah to meet with the family in person.
Kirk, 31, was the co-founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization with a presence on more than 3,000 campuses nationwide. The group has become a powerhouse on the right, hosting events that attract high-profile Republicans, including Trump himself.
Kirk also hosted “The Charlie Kirk Show” podcast, wrote several books, and was a fixture in conservative media. He played a key role in urging Trump to select Vance as his 2024 running mate and spoke at both the 2020 and 2024 Republican National Conventions.
A Movement in Mourning
Kirk’s assassination has shaken conservative circles, with Trump and other allies mourning the loss of a close friend and prominent activist. Trump first broke the news of Kirk’s death on his social media platform, calling him “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk.”
Turning Point USA confirmed Kirk’s death in a statement late Wednesday, calling him “a champion of freedom” and pledging to continue his mission of mobilizing young conservatives.
Law enforcement officials in Utah said Kirk was shot by a gunman firing from a distance during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University. Authorities are continuing their investigation.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, is given to individuals who have made “an especially meritorious contribution” to U.S. security, culture, or public life. Trump has used the medal in the past to honor figures such as Rush Limbaugh and Jim Ryun.
Kirk will now join that list — a posthumous recognition of a young conservative leader whose influence, allies say, will resonate long after his death.
