In a crowded Rose Garden ceremony, President Donald Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to Charlie Kirk, the late and great founder of Turning Point USA.

Trump opened up the ceremony by saying, “Today we’re here to honor and remember a fearless warrior for liberty, a beloved leader who galvanized the next generation like nobody I’ve ever seen before, and an American patriot of the deepest conviction, the finest quality and the highest caliber, the late, great, Charlie Kirk,” – before condemning Kirk’s killing as both “horrible” and “heinous.”

The tribute, held on what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday, came just over a month after his assassination during a speaking event in Utah, an act of violence that has reignited debate over the violent hostility often aimed at conservative voices.

Originally planned for the East Room, the event was eventually moved outdoors to accommodate the large crowd that gathered to honor Kirk. The ceremony would be Trump’s first Medal of Freedom presentation of his second term.

“We’re entering his name forever into the eternal roster of true American heroes. He’s a true American hero, an amazing person. He was way beyond his years,” the president said on Tuesday.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE DALLAS EXPRESS APP

Kirk’s life was cut short on September 10 during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, when a sniper opened fire as Kirk spoke with students about faith, freedom, and the future of America.

Authorities later arrested a 24-year-old suspect with alleged ties to far-left groups, as previously reported by DX, yet the assassination left a wake of growing concerns about political violence and security risks faced by the right across the country.

Despite the assassination, Kirk’s influence continued to grow rapidly around the world.

His movement, built from a scrappy 2012 startup into one of America’s largest youth-driven conservative organizations, galvanized millions of young patriots across the country.

Under his leadership, Turning Point USA fought against critical race theory, radical sex and gender ideologies, as well as loose open-border policies.

Many top leaders, including Trump, have credited Kirk’s grassroots network with helping drive a historic turnout in the 2024 election, especially among first-time voters who were fed up with or disillusioned by the growing imposition of “progressive” politics and anti-American ideology.

Those close to Kirk described him as a man of conviction whose love for God, country, and constitutional liberty weren’t mere talking points – they were his purpose, and his way of life.

In a past podcast interview, Kirk was asked, “How would you want to be remembered?”

His response: “I wanna be remembered for courage for my faith. That would be the most important thing – the most important thing is my faith.”

In a separate social media post, captioning a picture of him holding his baby, Kirk simply wrote: “God, family, country. In that order.”

The Turning Point Founder’s widow, Erika Kirk, took the helm during a statement following his death, pledging to carry forward his mission with a renewed resolve. A few days later a sold-out NFL stadium full of supporters gathered at a September memorial in Arizona, waving flags and chanting for justice as she vowed to expand campus outreach and the preservation of free speech – keeping Charlie’s fight alive.

Trump, who continued to credit Kirk for helping inspire patriots throughout America – and those who fought for freedom around the world, praised him as “a visionary and one of the greatest figures of his generation. He was truly an amazing figure.”

“He was so wise beyond his years,” Trump added.

Later in the day, President Trump invited Erika Kirk into the Oval Office, where he signed a proclamation designating October 14 — Kirk’s birthday — as the National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk.