On Tuesday, Charlie Kirk is set to be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, coinciding with what would have been his 32nd birthday.
The founder of Turning Point USA was tragically shot on September 10 while attending an event at a Utah college. The President announced the day following Kirk’s death that he planned to recognize him as a “giant of his generation” by bestowing this prestigious civilian accolade.
The ceremony is set for 4 p.m. in the East Room of the White House. Erika Kirk, Kirk’s widow, will accept the medal in his memory. She has also taken on the responsibility of leading the conservative initiative Turning Point USA, which Kirk launched in 2012 to galvanize young conservative voters.
Kirk was a loyal Trump supporter and worked tirelessly to put Trump back in office in the 2024 election.
“Donald Trump is on a mission to rekindle your birthright, one that your grandparents and ancestors worked tirelessly to secure for you,” Kirk stated during his address at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
The President confirmed Kirk’s death on Truth Social the day the slain activist was murdered.
“He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us,” Trump said.
Trump also spoke at Kirk’s memorial, where he praised the Illinois native as a patriot whose legacy will endure.
“He’s a martyr now for American freedom,” Trump said.
During his first term, the President honored 24 individuals with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, including talk radio figure Rush Limbaugh shortly after Limbaugh revealed his advanced lung cancer diagnosis. Limbaugh passed away less than two weeks after receiving the medal during the President’s 2020 State of the Union address.
Trump said in September that he also plans to honor former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Kirk’s life and legacy are being commemorated nationwide on Tuesday, with events such as the dedication of a statue in his honor at the Treasure Coast Baptist Church in Florida, featuring a 31-foot flagpole.
