In a heartfelt ceremony at the White House Rose Garden, President Donald Trump honored Charlie Kirk with the Medal of Freedom on what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday. Overcome with emotion, Kirk’s widow Erika accepted the prestigious civilian award from Trump, expressing her gratitude by saying, “You have given him the best birthday gift he could ever have,” as she wiped away tears, with Trump smiling warmly in response.

Despite returning from a hectic peace mission in the Middle East just the night before, President Trump made it a point to attend the ceremony. He remarked, “I raced back halfway around the globe. I thought about calling Erika to ask, ‘Could you maybe move it to Friday?’ but I didn’t have the courage,” adding, “But you know why I didn’t call? Because I heard today was Charlie’s birthday.” Kirk’s parents, who have largely stayed out of the public eye since their son’s passing, were also present to witness the honor.

The event was attended by friends, colleagues from Turning Point, and notable figures such as Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha, along with Trump’s son Don Jr. Conservative media personalities like Tucker Carlson, Jesse Watters, Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, and Laura Ingraham also showed their support. Erika, 36, shared a touching moment, revealing how she asked their daughter what she wanted to say to her father on his birthday. Her daughter’s heartfelt response was, “Happy birthday Daddy, I want to give you a stuffed animal. I want to eat a cupcake with ice cream and I want you to come home for a birthday surprise. I love you.”

Trump praised Charlie for always believing that peace in the Middle East could be done. The president, who yesterday speculated on the afterlife as a reporter questioned him on Air Force One, said: ‘[Charlie] is gonna make heaven. I said, I’m not sure I can make it. But he’s gonna make it. He’s there, looking down on us right now.’ Trump hailed Kirk’s wisdom and activism in support of the conservative movement and his presidential campaign.

‘Without him, who knows, maybe we would have Kamala standing here today. That would not be good,’ he said, referring to his former presidential rival in the 2024 campaign. ‘Everything he did was historic. A true evangelist with the cause of freedom and the word of almighty God.’ He compared Kirk to other people who were killed for their beliefs including Socrates, St. Peter, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King Jr.

‘He was a martyr for truth and for freedom,’ Trump said. ‘Those who change history of the most he really did, have always risked their lives for causes they were put on Earth to defend.’ The president also paid a touching tribute to Erika, now the CEO of Charlie’s Turning Point USA foundation that inspired young people across college campuses.

‘I was with him before I met Erika. And he told me he was going to get married. He said, “You won’t believe how beautiful she is,”‘ Trump recounted. ‘But then he also said, “And you know what? She’s like the smartest person I know.” ‘See, they do go together on occasion. Not often. Not often. But on occasion, they go together,’ he added as the crowd chuckled.

After the ceremony, President Trump stood quietly with Erika and her parents as the United States Marine ‘President’s Own’ band played Amazing Grace, before quietly departing the Rose Garden and entering the Oval Office. For the past month, senior members of the team rallied to Erika’s side to help bolster Kirk’s organization Turning Point USA, the conservative behemoth organization built to help motivate and inspire young people.

Although the president’s attention has been directed at the successful Israeli peace deal with Gaza , he was determined to get back to the White House in time for Tuesday afternoon’s ceremony. Kirk was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University during the first stop of his campus speaking tour.

Trump announced his intention to posthumously award Kirk the nation’s highest civilian honor during remarks at the Pentagon commemorating the 9/11 attacks, just days after the assassination . Kirk had built Turning Point USA into one of the most influential conservative youth organizations in America, known for its campus activism and annual conferences that drew thousands of young conservatives.

After Kirk’s death, Erika publicly delivered a statement vowing to carry on his work as the new CEO of the organization. Trump memorably eulogized Kirk at his memorial service days later and comforted Erika who mourned the loss of her husband.

‘We know the weight of this monumental loss is almost unbearable,’ he said. ‘But even in the midst of heartache and pain too great to even fathom, you have somehow found the strength and deep faith to be a comfort to millions and millions of people.’ More than 60,000 people attended the service which was held at State Farm Stadium, which hosts the Arizona Cardinals NFL team.