TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Charlie Kirk, a right-wing agitator who was shot dead, will be posthumously awarded the "Presidential Medal of Freedom" by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced at the Pentagon on Thursday.
Trump stated this during a speech at the 24th-anniversary commemoration of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Trump claimed that Kirk, who was shot dead during a question-and-answer session at Utah Valley University, is an inspiration to millions of people, a "giant of his generation, and a freedom fighter."
He expressed sympathy to Kirk's family, saying, "Our prayers are with his wonderful wife, Erika, and his beautiful children; they are fantastic people," Trump said as reported by NDTV on Friday, September 12, 2025.
What is the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award in the United States. The award is given by the President to honor outstanding lifetime contributions in the fields of art, public service, science, or other fields, according to Congress.gov, as reported by The Hill.
President Harry S. Truman first established the Medal of Freedom in 1945. Then, in 1963, President John F. Kennedy renamed it the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The medal features a white star on a red pentagon, surrounded by five golden eagles. In the center of the star is a blue circle with 13 golden stars, representing the original 13 U.S. states.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is available in two levels. Most recipients are awarded the standard version, while the more prestigious version, the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction, is designated for individuals whose contributions are truly exceptional.
The medal is referred to as both "the highest civil award that can be presented by the President of the United States" and "the civilian equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor."
According to an executive order issued by President John F. Kennedy, the award may be given to "any person who has made an especially meritorious contribution to (1) the security or national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, or (3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."
Notable Recipients of the Award
Although there is no nomination process, there is a separate executive order that gives the President broad leeway to award it to anyone.
Over the decades, the medal has been awarded to a diverse group of individuals, ranging from civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. to artists like Ella Fitzgerald and astronauts like Neil Armstrong.
Since 1963, the Presidential Medal of Freedom has been awarded over 670 times, according to the U.S. Congress. Two individuals, Ellsworth Bunker, who served as ambassador to Vietnam during the Vietnam War, and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, have been awarded the medal twice.
Bunker and Powell are among 56 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom "with distinction," the more prestigious version of the award.
Other notable figures include Pope Francis and Pope John XXIII, former President Joe Biden, and John F. Kennedy, the Apollo 11 crew, and any recipient mentioned by President Gerald Ford.
Those who will receive the award posthumously include Kennedy, Babe Ruth, Martin Luther King Jr., John Wayne, Jackie Robinson, and Sally Ride.
Trump's Medal of Freedom Recipients
During his first term, Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 24 recipients.
Among them were several athletes, including baseball legend Babe Ruth, golfer Tiger Woods, and former New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera. Singer Elvis Presley and former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia received posthumous awards in 2018.
Earlier this month, Trump announced that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom after he suffered serious injuries in a car accident in New Jersey.
It is unclear when Giuliani and Kirk will receive the award.
Who is Charlie Kirk?
Charlie Kirk is a prominent conservative agitator in America who is Islamophobic, homophobic, anti-Black, pro-Israel, a supporter of gun ownership, and a supporter of Trump. He is the founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a non-profit organization based in Phoenix, Arizona.
Turning Point was established in 2012 to advocate for low taxes and limited government on college campuses. Despite initial skepticism, Turning Point enthusiastically supported Trump after he won the Republican Party nomination in 2016. Kirk served as a personal assistant to Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, during the general election campaign.
He was shot in the neck during a public event at Utah Valley University. He was taken to the hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery but succumbed to his injuries.
The FBI is currently investigating the case as a suspected political assassination. The perpetrator is still at large.
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