US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (Oct 14) hailed conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a “martyr for truth and freedom” while posthumously awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honour. At a solemn White House ceremony, Trump handed the medal to Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, calling the 31-year-old slain commentator a “fearless fighter for America’s values.”
Charlie Kirk "gave his life for truth"
Addressing the gathering at the White House medal ceremony, Trump compared Kirk, who was assassinated last month, to Socrates, Saint Peter, Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King.
Vowing to intensify his crackdown on left-wing extremism after what he called the “assassination” of his ally, Trump said that, "In the wake of Charlie's assassination, our country must have absolutely no tolerance for this radical left violence, extremism and terror".
"We're done with the angry mobs, and we're not going to let our cities be unsafe," he added as leading conservative figures and foreign dignitaries looked on.
Trump interrupted his Middle East peace tour to attend the ceremony, which coincided with what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday. “You have given him the best birthday gift he could ever have,” Erika Kirk said through tears. She added that "would probably have run for president" one day.
Trending Stories
)
Russia-Ukraine war: Putin mobilises more troops for Ukraine's war decisive invasion
)
Karan Johar's The Traitors season 2 contestants: Rhea Chakraborty, Mallika Sherawat and Munawar Faruqui in the first batch
)
ICC announces 12 host venues for 2027 ODI World Cup
)
Nearly Rs 29 crore cash, 15 kg gold found at ex-bus driver's house in West Bengal
)
'We have special forces': Netanyahu warns against any ICC arrest attempt abroad
)
'I was almost trafficked in Paris,' says Australian woman, shares terrifying ordeal - 'I am on the black market'
)
Lift accident? Maintenance, builders & makers are ALL liable now, rules Supreme Court: 3 major regulations | WION Decodes
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
‘Italy will not...’: Meloni threatens Spain’s Schengen access after thousands enter Ceuta from Morocco
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
)
Monsoon set to strengthen in August as India's rainfall deficit narrows to 14%: IMD
)
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke returns to Maharashtra, receives grand welcome in hometown
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
This Ramayana actor took ZERO fee from Rs 4000 crore film. Guess who?
)
Kiara Advani reveals why she chose Toxic, says character offered her 'all the meat an actor longs for'
)
Pakistan avalanche: Four bodies found as search for Nirmal Purja and 9 other climbers enters critical phase
)
Shehzad Poonawalla, BJP's national spokesperson quits politics? Here's what sparked social media buzz
)
Hosts India sweep Malaysia for double gold in men’s and women’s Commonwealth Table Tennis finals
)
23ft python swallows man returning from party in Indonesia; family find body whole inside reptile
)
"Am I Worthy?" Ranbir Kapoor addresses backlash over playing Lord Ram in Ramayana: Part 1
)
Have 7,000 Karnataka students tested positive for HIV? Here's the truth
)
Russia-Ukraine War: Zelensky fears 500,000 new Russian troops
)
British Airways flight comes close to 'nosediving' over London
)
Student denied admission to IIT Kanpur's cybersecurity program hacks websites to prove a point
)
'Living Nostradamus' warns of a new war, claims two of his 2026 predictions have come true
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (July 31, 2026): The Vacation Principle, Rao Bahadur, Chum- Watch 6 new movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
More than 100 Israeli soldiers walk out of base, chant slogans in an 'act of rebellion' | Watch
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 9: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings
)
Delhi Consumer Court fines Indian Railways Rs 25,000 for making RAC passengers share one blanket
)
Spider-Man producer Amy Pascal reveals why she warned Tom Holland and Zendaya against dating
)
NEET Protests riddled with misinformation? Delhi Police blocks 480 Pakistan-based handles spreading 'fake news' since Operation Sindoor
)
49,000 illegal migrants enter Spain from Morocco; 34 dead – What is happening in Ceuta?
)
Alert for torrential rains across Jammu division; flash flood risk over next five days
)
60,000 migrants from Morocco flood Spain's Ceuta, EU calls influx unacceptable, Trump warns US
)
Indian forces used pellet guns on Jul 20? SC hearing, police diary entry, MLC report and injured protesters' claims
)
Trump to charge foreign students $100,000 for a shot at a US job? Here's why Indian students should be worried
)
3.6mn people track 24hr Qantas flight from Melbourne to Toulouse: Pilot shifts, fuel tank and other details
US State Department revokes visas of people who celebrated Kirk's killing
The State Department later said it had revoked visas of at least six foreign nationals who had "celebrated the heinous assassination" on social media. The posts reportedly came from users in Argentina, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, and Germany. According to an X post by the State Department, the foreign nationals had called Kirk "racist," "xenophobic", among other things.
One German citizen apparently lost their US visa for writing, "When fascists die, democrats don't complain."
Also read | ‘Living Nostradamus’ warns of 'imminent crisis,' makes chilling prophecy about Trump's plans for US military
This comes as the Trump administration faces criticism for using visa revocations as political punishment, most recently targeting foreign students involved in Gaza war protests on US university campuses.
Kirk assassination
Charlie Kirk, a father of two and founder of the right-wing group Turning Point USA, was shot dead on a Utah college campus in September 2025, sparking outrage among conservatives. 22-year-old Tyler Robinson has been charged with Kirk’s murder and faces the death penalty if convicted.
