Kirk’s Presidential Medal of Freedom!
Washington, Oct 14 (EFE) –
United States President Donald Trump posthumously presented on Tuesday the Presidential Medal of Freedom to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, assassinated on Sep 10.
“He was indomitable, and always will be. He’s really irreplaceable. Nobody’s going to replace him … You can’t replace that kind of person and that kind of talent. We hold his memory in our hearts forever,” Trump said during the ceremony held in the Rose Garden of the White House, the day Kirk would have turned 32.
Trump’s closest cabinet members, some Republican senators, and Argentine President Javier Milei attended the ceremony, sitting in the front row.
Trump also announced that Oct 14 would be Charlie Kirk National Remembrance Day.
“Five weeks ago, our nation was robbed of this extraordinary champion,” Trump said, beginning his speech by referring to Kirk, one of his key allies through the Turning Point Foundation, a conservative organization dedicated to mobilizing young people on college campuses and promoting right-wing politics.
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, received the medal and told Trump that it was “the best birthday present” her husband could have received.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor, has been awarded by various presidents to prominent figures in politics, culture, and sports.
Past recipients include Winston Churchill in 1963, Nelson Mandela in 2002, boxer Muhammad Ali in 2005, and singer Frank Sinatra in 1981. They were recognized for their “outstanding contributions to humanity and American values.”
Kirk was a leading proponent of the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement.
According to Vice President JD Vance, Kirk was a key figure in the 2024 election campaign and also helped to designate people in government positions during the Trump administration’s formation.
Kirk’s wake, held on September 21 in Arizona, brought together more than 100,000 people, including top Trump administration cabinet officials, who took the floor to pay their respects to the activist. EFE
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