On Thursday, President Trump declared that he will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to conservative activist Charlie Kirk. This announcement came a day after Kirk was tragically shot and killed while addressing a large audience at Utah Valley University.
The president revealed his decision at the beginning of his speech at the Pentagon, where he was honoring the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack victims. He mentioned that the date for the medal ceremony will be provided later.
“Before we start, I want to share the shock and sadness many Americans feel over the terrible murder of Charlie Kirk,” Trump remarked. “Charlie was a standout figure of his generation, a defender of freedom, and a source of inspiration to countless people.”
Trump called Kirk’s family “fantastic people.”
“We miss him greatly and yet I have no doubt that Charlie’s voice… will live on,” he said.
Kirk, a prominent advocate within the MAGA movement, was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University during an event titled “The American Comeback Tour.”
Vice President JD Vance traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah on Thursday to pay his respects to the family of Kirk.
On Wednesday night, Trump expressed his sorrow and outrage in an online video, referring to Kirk’s death as a loss of a “martyr for truth and freedom.”
Kirk’s death has stoked fears of more political violence and as of Thursday morning, a manhunt is still underway for the assassin.
The authorities stated that they have retrieved what is believed to be the firearm used in the incident and have high-quality footage of the suspect, but they currently do not intend to release it. They suspect that the perpetrator is of college age.
