Donald Trump posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest US civilian honour, to assassinated far-right commentator Charlie Kirk at the White House on Tuesday. The ceremony was held on what would have been Kirk's 32nd birthday, with his widow, Erika, accepting the award on his behalf.
Kirk, who was shot at an event at Utah Valley University in September, was a significant right-wing activist, galvanising a younger generation of conservatives through his organisation Turning Point USA. He was a key ally of Trump, running ground operations for his campaign in the pivotal state of Arizona.
However, Kirk was a polarising figure, often criticising gay and transgender rights and suggesting the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a 'mistake'. Critics argue tributes to him elevated extremist views that stoked division.
The Trump administration later revoked the visas of six foreign nationals deemed to have made negative comments about Kirk's assassination, raising free speech concerns. Trump used the murder to justify deploying National Guard troops to Democratic-run cities.
In emotional remarks, Erika Kirk praised her late husband's faith, saying he now 'wears the crown of a righteous martyr'. She suggested he might have run for president had he lived, and gently contradicted Trump's assertion that Kirk loved his enemies, clarifying that he prayed for them in private.
Guests included Vice-President JD Vance, several cabinet secretaries, and Kirk's close political associates. Trump has frequently awarded the Medal of Freedom to supporters, including Rush Limbaugh and Rudy Giuliani.
