President Donald Trump was joined by Erika Kirk yesterday on what would have been Charlie Kirk's 32nd birthday to issue an award to the assassinated influencer.
Trump delivered an emotional tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk at the White House on Tuesday (14 October).
Kirk founded Turning Point USA, a non-profit organisation that advocates for conservative politics on high school and university campuses. The group became one of the most influential conservative youth movements in the country under his leadership.
On 10 September, the activist was assassinated at an event at Utah Valley University in front of around 3,000 people after a fatal shot to his neck.
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The ceremony took place on what would have been Kirk's 32nd birthday, where the 47th US President described Kirk as a 'fearless warrior for liberty' and awarded him the Medal of Freedom.
Trump was joined by Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, who wiped away tears as Trump presented her with the medal during a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden.
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"You have given him the best birthday gift he could ever have," the mother of two told the president.
Trump had just returned from a Middle East peace mission, but explained that he made the effort to be present on his late friend's birthday.
"I raced back halfway around the globe. I was going to call Erika and ask, "Could you maybe move it to Friday?" but I didn't have the courage to call," he said. "But you know why I didn't call? Because I heard today was Charlie's birthday."
Kirk's parents also attended the ceremony despite largely staying out of the public eye since their son's death.
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The event also brought together several conservative figures, including Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha and Trump's son, Don Jr. Other conservative media personalities that attended included Tucker Carlson, Jesse Watters, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, and Laura Ingraham.
Erika struggled to hold back tears as she asked their daughter 'what she would like to say to Daddy' on his birthday.
"And she said, "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," she recalled.
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Trump praised Kirk's wisdom and activism in helping propel the conservative movement and his own 2024 presidential campaign to victory.
"Without him, who knows, maybe we would have Kamala standing here today. That would not be good," he said. "Everything he did was historic. A true evangelist with the cause of freedom and the word of almighty God."
He compared Kirk to other historical figures 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.