President Donald Trump on Tuesday posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk, the conservative firebrand and founder of Turning
Point USA, who was assassinated last month while speaking at a college event in Utah. At a solemn Rose Garden ceremony, Trump praised Kirk as “a fearless warrior for liberty” and “a beloved leader who galvanized the next generation like nobody I’ve ever seen before.” Kirk’s wife, Erika Kirk, accepted the nation’s highest civilian honor on his behalf, standing alongside the president during the ceremony.
"The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Charles James Kirk" pic.twitter.com/Mg0J2b5tqk
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 14, 2025
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on September 10 during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University, a shocking act of political violence that sparked nationwide outrage and intensified partisan debates.
The attack quickly became a rallying point for Trump and his supporters. In the weeks since, the president has repeatedly invoked Kirk’s death to mobilize his base and push for what he calls a “crackdown on radical left extremism.”
Following the assassination, the Trump administration has directed multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and IRS, to investigate and disrupt organizations it alleges are linked to political violence on the left.
