Donald Trump announced he will posthumously award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom after he was assassinated while speaking on a college campus in Utah.
“Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty, and an inspiration to millions and millions of people,” Trump said Thursday morning while delivering a 9/11 remembrance speech at the Pentagon. “We miss him greatly, yet I have no doubt that Charlie’s voice and the courage he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people, will live on.”
The Medal of Freedom is considered the highest civilian honor in the United States, intended for those with exceptional contributions to world peace, national security or American cultural endeavors. In his first term, Trump gave the Presidential Medal of Freedom to rock icon Elvis Presley, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, golf legend Tiger Woods and conservative radio pioneer Rush Limbaugh, among others.Kirk, a Trump ally and the co-founder of right-wing advocacy group Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on Wednesday afternoon during an appearance at Utah Valley University. The 31-year-old media personality was debating students on various political topics when a bullet struck his neck, and his security rushed him to the hospital. Graphic videos of the shooting circulated on social media, and politicians from both sides of the aisle shared prayers for Kirk, who is credited for helping swing the youth vote red in the 2024 election.
About 90 minutes after Kirk was shot, Trump announced he had died on Truth Social, writing, “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
As of Thursday morning, the shooter is still at large, as the FBI and several local law enforcement agencies investigate the assassination.
From Variety US
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