US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that conservative activist Charlie Kirk will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honour.
Kirk, 31, co-founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative youth leader, was fatally shot on September 10 during a public speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The assailant fired a single shot from a rooftop and fled, prompting a nationwide manhunt. Authorities have received more than 7,000 tips but have yet to identify the shooter.
In a video address from the Oval Office, President Trump described Kirk as “a martyr for truth and freedom” and condemned the “demonizing” of political opponents in the country. He also criticised the rhetoric of the “radical left,” saying it was “directly responsible” for Kirk’s assassination.
Kirk, a close ally of President Trump, played a key role in mobilising young Republican voters and rose to prominence as a leading figure in conservative youth activism after co-founding Turning Point USA in 2012.
In tribute to Kirk, President Trump ordered all American flags to be lowered to half-staff. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, visited Kirk’s family in Salt Lake City. Authorities have also announced a US $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the shooter.
The assassination has drawn widespread condemnation across the political spectrum and reignited national debates over political violence in the United States. Investigations are ongoing as authorities work to bring justice for Charlie Kirk.
