President Trump on Tuesday hosted an incredible ceremony at the White House with members of his administration, members of Congress, and friends of the late Charlie Kirk to posthumously honor him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor.
The ceremony on October 14 was held on the same day that the slain Turning Point USA founder and conservative champion would have turned 32 years old.
President Trump also signed a proclamation, designating October 14, 2025, as a “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk.”
“Today, our Nation honors the immortal memory of Charlie — a father, a husband, a Christian martyr, and a titan of the American conservative movement. We honor his life, we send our condolences to his beautiful family, and we pledge to advance the values for which he laid down his life,” the proclamation recognizing and paying homage to Kirk’s life and legacy states.
“We call on every American to pray for peace in our public square. Above all, we renew our resolve to always defend our principles of truth, faith, and the open exchange of ideas.”
Kirk, a 31-year-old husband, father, and leader in the conservative movement, was gunned down on September 10, 2025, while hosting a campus speaking tour event at Utah Valley University.
President Trump delivered remarks at the event before a military aide read the citation for Kirk’s Medal of Freedom, where he was recognized as “one of the most influential American political figures of his generation” and “one of the great debaters and communicators of his time.”
“The United States honors him of a martyr for truth and freedom,” the citation read.
Charlie’s wife, Erika Kirk, received the medal on Charlie’s behalf. She then addressed the crowd for approximately 16 minutes.
Trump described the forces that led to Kirk’s early passing as “demonic” and said the Democrats embody “the devil’s ideology.”
To conclude his roughly 30-minute-long speech, the President remembered the “unstoppable” and “indomitable” Charlie Kirk, who was “one of a kind,” he said.
“Nobody could replace him,” Trump said of Charlie Kirk. “You can’t replace that kind of person and that kind of talent, frankly.”
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Trump: One month after Charlie’s death, we still feel the terrible shock and the pain of his loss like just about nobody I can think of. Charlie Kirk was one of a kind. He was unstoppable. And he really was. Boy, when he had an idea in his head, oh, he would call me: “Sir, please. You haven’t done it yet!” I said, “Charlie, relax. Just relax.” He didn’t relax. He’d call me the next day again. He got it done, but he was like, indomitable, and always will be. He’s really irreplaceable. Nobody could replace him, but they’re going to do great, but you can’t replace that kind of person and that kind of talent, frankly. The word talent is an important word, but that kind of talent, so we hold his memory in our hearts forever. Every single day of this administration, we will continue to carry out the mission for which he lived, and he really did. He lived for this country. He lived for his wife and his family, but he lived for this country too. In Charlie’s honor, we will continue, like we have been, to fight, fight, fight, and to win, win, win. We’re going to win so much.
So, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is a big deal. You have the Congressional Medal of Honor, military, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is civilian, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom is a really big deal. Very few people get it. Very few people, frankly, qualify. It’s a decision of the President, but it’s a qualification that’s a very hard one to get. And I would like to ask if I might the military aide to read Charles James Kirk’s citation for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Military Aide: The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Charles James Kirk. Accepting on behalf of Charlie is his wife, Mrs. Erika Kirk. Charlie Kirk was one of the most influential American 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 of a martyr for truth and freedom.
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