The president of the United States, Donald Trumphas awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to the conservative activist Charlie Kirkwho was murdered on September 10 and would have turned 32 this Tuesday.
“He had a lot of ideas in his head (…) Charlie is irreplaceable“Trump said during the ceremony that took place in the Rose Garden of the White House, with the presence of the closest officials of his cabinet, some Republican senators and his Argentine counterpart, Javier milei, sitting in the front row.
The president has also assured that October 14 will be National Charlie Kirk Remembrance Day.
“Five weeks ago we lost this champion (…) a leader who pushed the next generation like no one else“Trump added as he began his speech about the activist murdered in Utah, who was one of his main allies through his Turning Point foundation., a conservative organization dedicated to mobilizing young people in universities and promoting the right.
The medal was received by Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, whom Trump has described as “an inspirational, beautiful, beautiful woman” and told her husband “sacrificed himself for the country.”
For her part, Erika Kirk thanked Trump for this medal, stating that it is “the best birthday gift” that her husband could receive.
“He didn’t necessarily love his enemies that much. I heard he loved his enemies, and I thought, ‘Wait a minute, is that the same Charlie I know?’ I didn’t want to go into details,” the Republican added.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor, has been awarded by different presidents to prominent figures in politics, culture and sports.
Among the winners are Winston Churchill in 1963, Nelson Mandela in 2002, the boxer Muhammad Ali in 2005 and the singer Frank Sinatra in 1981, recognizing his “exceptional contributions to humanity and American values.”
Kirk was one of the main promoters of the ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA) movement and, according to Vice President JD Vance, a key figure in the 2024 election campaign, in addition to having helped place people in government positions during the structuring of the Trump Administration.
Kirk’s wake, held on September 21 in Arizona, brought together more than 100,000 people, including Trump’s top cabinet officials, who took the floor to say goodbye to the activist.