Charlie Kirk Posthumously Awarded Presidential Medal Of Freedom On 32nd Birthday
on Oct 14, 2025
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on what would have been his 32nd birthday.
Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10. The death of the right-wing political activist, speaker, and founder of Turning Point USA, was the latest politically motivated attack that once again highlighted the tensions across party lines.
RELATED: TURNING POINT USA RECEIVES THOUSANDS OF NEW CHAPTER REQUESTS FOLLOWING CHARLIE KIRK’S DEATH
Kirk’s life and legacy were celebrated in a public memorial service that many called a “conservative revival.” Tens of thousands of mourners gathered at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, and thousands more watched online as friends, family, and politicians paid tribute.
On October 10, one month after Charlie Kirk’s death, President Donald Trump announced that he would posthumously award him the highest civilian honor—the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Trump told the press that he would rush home from Israel and Egypt to present the award on what would have been his 32nd birthday.
“We’re going to have a great celebration at the White House,” Trump said.
Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika, received the medal on her late husband’s behalf.
Erika Kirk and numerous Turning Point USA staffers were in attendance for the ceremony along with numerous members of the current administration.
President Trump addressed a crowd gathered in the Rose Garden on the grounds of the White House. He told those in attendance:
“Today, we’re here to remember and honor a fearless warrior for liberty, a beloved leader who galvanized the next generation, an American patriot of the deepest conviction, the finest quality and the highest caliber, Charlie Kirk.”
The president went on to praise Kirk’s love of God, love of country, and love of his family.
The official proclamation for Charlie Kirk’s award presentation read:
Charlie Kirk was one of the most influential American pop political figures of his generation. At just 18 years old, he founded Turning Point USA and grew it into the largest conservative youth organization in the nation.
For over a decade, he tirelessly traveled the country, leading a movement to restore respect for our founding principles, reawaken our national identity, and inspire a renewed spirit of religious devotion. He was one of the great debaters and communicators of his time. Despite receiving repeated threats, he remained undeterred and modeled courage, logic, humor, and grace to the next generation. On September 10, 2025, at age 31, Charlie Kirk was assassinated while addressing a group of students. The United States honors him as a martyr for truth and freedom.
Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk, joined Trump to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom. After receiving the medal and posing for photos, Erika spoke to attendees, telling them that her husband would have run for president had he lived.
“And if the moment had come, he probably would have run for president, but not out of ambition. He would only have done it if that was something that he believed that his country needed,” Erika said.
She shared numerous memories of her late husband and some of his most powerful quotes. Among those was, “To live free is the greatest gift. But to die free is the greatest victory.”
One of the most emotional moments of her speech was when Erika shared a message from their 3-year-old daughter to her late father. That message read, “Happy birthday, daddy. I want to give you a stuffed animal. I want you to eat a cupcake with ice cream. And I want you to go have a birthday surprise. I love you.”
Watch Charlie Kirk’s Presidential Medal of Honor ceremony in the video below.
