President Donald Trump said Thursday that he will honor Charlie Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom after his death.
Kirk, a 31-year-old conservative commentator, was killed on Wednesday, September 10, while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
He had been touring campuses with his American Comeback Tour. During the first stop, he was seated at his “Prove Me Wrong” table when a gunshot struck him in the neck.
Video from the event showed the moment of the attack under a white pop-up tent. Emergency responders rushed him to a hospital, but he did not survive.
Trump confirmed the death on Truth Social hours later. “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” he wrote. He praised Kirk’s bond with young Americans.
The president added, “He was loved and admired by all, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.”
The next day, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended the Pentagon’s 9/11 memorial ceremony. Before his speech, he reflected on the grief over Kirk’s assassination.
“Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty, and an inspiration to millions,” Trump said. “We miss him greatly, and we pray for his family.”
Trump announced that Kirk will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. He said the date will be shared soon and promised a large public ceremony.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom, created in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy, is the nation’s highest civilian honor. It is given for major contributions to security, peace, or cultural work.
Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk co-founded at 18, confirmed his death in a statement. The group asked for prayers for his wife Erika and their two young children.
Kirk’s widow, Erika Frantzve, married him in 2021. They welcomed a daughter in 2022 and a son in 2024. Both are under the age of four.
Kirk rose to prominence by building Turning Point into a national network of student chapters. He promoted conservative politics on high school and college campuses across the country.
He later hosted “The Charlie Kirk Show,” a daily radio program that drew millions of listeners. His style of combative campus debates often went viral online.
In 2020, Trump appointed Kirk to a commission that pushed for “patriotic education.” Kirk’s political influence made him one of Trump’s closest allies among younger conservatives.
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At the time of his death, he was again working to mobilize students ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. His Utah stop was the first in a planned national tour.
Supporters have gathered outside Turning Point headquarters to leave flowers and tributes. Many say his energy and presence will leave a lasting gap in youth politics.
