WASHINGTON (AP) — The President donald trump On Tuesday, he was posthumously awarded America’s highest civilian honor. charlie kirkthe assassinated activist who influenced a generation of young conservatives and helped push the country’s politics further to the right.
Accepting the award on Kirk’s behalf was his widow, Erica. Erika Kirk said as she wiped away tears, her voice cracking and often a whisper. She spoke about her late husband’s life, political beliefs, and legacy.
“Mr. President, thank you for honoring my husband in such a deep and meaningful way, and thank you for making this event a priority,” she said. “Your support for our family and the work Charlie dedicated his life to is something I will always treasure.”
The ceremony coincided with Kirk’s 32nd birthday. That happened about a month after the Turning Point USA founder took over. mortally injured When speaking to a crowd at Utah Valley University.
In a sign of Kirk’s close ties to the administration, he became the first recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom during President Trump’s second term. The president also kirk’s funeral In September, Vice President J.D. Vance, who called him a “great American hero” and a “martyr” to freedom, accompanied Erica Kirk to accompany his body on Air Force Flight 2 back to Arizona.
“We are here to honor and remember a fearless fighter for freedom, a beloved leader who inspired the next generation like no other American patriot has ever seen, and an American patriot of the deepest faith, the highest quality, and the greatest talent,” President Trump said at the medal ceremony.
Regarding Kirk’s killing, the president said, “He was assassinated at the peak of his life because he boldly spoke his truth, lived his faith and fought tirelessly for a better and stronger America.”
of Presidential Medal of Freedom It was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 to recognize individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other important public or private endeavors.
Trump returned to the United States in the early hours of Tuesday after the meeting. A whirlwind journey to Israel and Egypt to celebrate armistice agreement in Israel and Hamas war in Gaza His administration was said to have helped mediate. The president joked that he almost asked to reschedule the ceremony because of his travels.
“I went halfway around the world and came back,” President Trump said. “I was going to call Erica and say, ‘Erica, could you change it to Friday?'” And I didn’t have the courage to call. But do you know why I didn’t call? Because I heard that today is Charlie’s birthday. ”
President Javier Millay of Argentina, He recently visited the White House with the president. I remained to attend the ceremony.
Trump has awarded a series of presidential medals to golf legends dating back to his first term. tiger woodsformer soccer coach Lou Holtz and conservative economists arthur laffer Yankees Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera and a conservative radio host rush limbaughThe latter was announced during the 2020 State of the Union address. He awarded posthumous medals to Babe Ruth and Elvis Presley.
President Trump also announced his intention to award medals to the following countries this term: Rudy Giuliania former New York City mayor and former advisor to his inner circle; ben carsonserved as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during President Trump’s first term.
Mr. Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012, and Mr. Trump praised him as one of the main reasons he was reelected last year.
But Kirk’s politics also often divisive. He was sharply critical of gay and transgender rights while stirring up racial tensions. Kirk also reiterated Trump’s false claims that former Vice President Kamala Harris is responsible for policies that encourage immigrants to enter the country illegally. george floydthe black man whose killing by a Minneapolis police officer sparked a national debate over racial injustice, “Scumbag.”
As Tuesday’s ceremony was underway, the Trump administration said: visa canceled Among six foreign nationals deemed by U.S. authorities to have made derisive or derisive comments regarding the Kirk assassination. The six people whose visas were revoked were from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay and South Africa.
The move comes as the Trump administration and its allies have focused on people who have made critical comments about Kirk, leading to firings and other discipline.
Trump said in a social media post hours before the ceremony began that the ceremony would be moved from the East Room of the White House to the Rose Garden to accommodate what he described as a “very large and enthusiastic” crowd.
Trump has paved the lawn there to create a patio area and gleefully said the medal ceremony will be one of the first big events in the new space. He noted how the weather turned out to be sunny when it was expected to rain, saying, “I told Erica that God was watching. And God didn’t want that to happen to Charlie.”
Kirk’s widow said that when she asked her 3-year-old daughter what she would give her father for his birthday, he said a stuffed animal and a cupcake, and that she was expecting a birthday surprise. Erica Kirk said her husband sometimes had difficulty buying presents, but the medal was the perfect gift.
Erica Kirk said her husband might run for president someday, but “wouldn’t do it out of ambition. He would only do it if he believed in the heart of his people that this was what the country needed.”
She said God had begun a “mighty work” through her husband and she intended to see it through to completion. She concluded her speech by saying that Charlie’s story reminds us that “to live free is the greatest gift, but to die free is the greatest victory.”
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This story has been corrected to show Kirk’s widow’s name is Erica, not Erika.
___ Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price and Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
