'His Mission Did Not Die': Erika Kirk Accepts 'Medal Of Freedom' For Late Husband Charlie

Last Updated:October 15, 2025, 13:24 IST

Donald Trump posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated last month. His widow, Erika Kirk, accepted the honour.

Erika Kirk with Donald Trump/A file photo of Charlie Kirk (Reuters/AFP)

In a deeply emotional ceremony held at the White House on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated last month while speaking at Utah Valley University.

The ceremony coincided with what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday, and his widow, Erika Kirk, accepted the nation’s highest civilian honour on his behalf.

Fighting back tears, Erika delivered a 15-minute speech, celebrating her husband’s faith, his mission for liberty, and his influence.

“Thank you, Mr President, for honouring my husband in such a profound and meaningful way, and thank you for making this event a priority amid the peace process in the Middle East," she began.

“Charlie always admired your commitment to freedom, and that’s something that both of you shared," she said.

Erika expressed her gratitude to Trump, the First Lady, and Vice President JD Vance, saying, “Your support of our family and the work that Charlie devoted his life to will be something I cherish forever. To our gracious First Lady and her office for making this event possible, thank you as well. It’s beautiful."

Addressing Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, she added, “Your friendship has been an unbelievable encouragement. Thank you."

Turning to the audience, which included family, friends, and Turning Point USA members, Erika said, “To all our friends and family that are here and watching from all around the world, thank you for loving us, thank you for praying for us, and for believing in what Charlie believed in."

She paid tribute to the young activists her husband mentored, saying, “To the Turning Point USA chapters watching across America right now, you are the heartbeat of this future and of this movement. Everything that Charlie built, you guys are the legacy holders of that. You are living proof that his mission did not die with him. It lives through you."

Quoting her husband’s conviction, she continued, “Charlie always said the next generation will decide whether freedom endures. And because of you, I know that freedom will endure."

Erika described her husband as a man who lived out his faith boldly, and added, “He was free from fear, free from compromise, free from anything that could enslave his soul. His name, Charles, literally means ‘free man’, and that’s exactly who my husband was."

Reflecting on his philosophy, she recalled, “Charlie often said that without God, freedom becomes chaos. He believed liberty could only survive when anchored to truth. He said the opposite of liberty isn’t law, it’s captivity. The freest people in the world are those whose hearts belong to Christ."

She described his definition of freedom as moral strength rather than indulgence, saying, “In a world that tells us freedom is doing whatever you want, Charlie reminded us that real freedom is the power to live freely and to do what is right. Freedom divorced from faith eventually just destroys itself."

Pausing to smile, Erika remembered her husband’s simplicity and humour.

“My husband was not a man of extravagance. He loved simple but deeply meaningful things, late-night walks, buying more books than he could ever read, and reading the same bedtime story to our kids. He loved sitting in the sun on a Saturday morning with his decaf coffee and his phone off, honouring the Sabbath."

“He preferred quiet birthdays, but I always told him, ‘Baby, I love your birthday because it’s the day God knew the world couldn’t go another day without you’."

Looking toward Trump, she added, “Mr President, I have spent seven and a half years trying to find the perfect birthday gift for Charlie. But now, I can say with confidence that you have given him the best birthday gift he could ever have, this Medal of Freedom. It’s such an honour and recognition of a life lived for defending freedom."

Erika recalled that even in his final moments, Kirk’s message was the same as it had always been, “It was written across his chest in those final moments on one of his simple t-shirts that always carried a message, this one bearing a single word, ‘Freedom’. That was the banner over his life."

She spoke about his courage and conviction, and said, “He wasn’t afraid, not of being slandered, not of losing friends. He stood for truth and freedom, and everything else was just noise to him. His confidence in Christ was absolute. There was no limit to what he would have sacrificed to defend freedom for all."

“If the moment had come, he probably would have run for president, but not out of ambition. Only if he believed his country needed him, from a servant’s heart."

Her voice quivered as she spoke of his death.

“Charlie lived only 31 short years, but he lived every single second. He filled every day with purpose, stood for God when it was costly, and even prayed for his enemies. He loved people when it was inconvenient. He ran his race with endurance and kept the faith. And now, he wears the crown of a righteous martyr. Heaven gained what earth could no longer contain, a free man, made fully free," she said.

Fighting back tears again, she shared the words of their three-year-old daughter.

“I asked our daughter what she would like to say to Daddy for his birthday, and she said, ‘Happy birthday, Daddy. I want to give you a stuffed animal. I want you to eat a cupcake with ice cream. And I want you to go have a birthday surprise. I love you’."

Erika closed her address with quiet strength, saying, “Charlie baby, I know that you’re celebrating in heaven today. We miss you, we love you, and we promise we’ll make you proud."

“Charlie’s life was proof that freedom is not a theory, it’s a testimony. Liberty begins not in the halls of power, but in a heart surrendered to God. To live free is the greatest gift, but to die free is the greatest victory. Happy birthday, my Charlie. Happy Freedom Day," she said.

President Trump, visibly moved, called Kirk “a fearless warrior for liberty, a beloved leader, and an American patriot of the highest calibre."

He said Kirk was “assassinated in the prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth, for living his faith, and for relentlessly fighting for a stronger America."

Vice President JD Vance, First Lady Melania Trump, and senior Turning Point USA staff were among those present.

As the Medal of Freedom glimmered in Erika Kirk’s hands, the room stood in prolonged applause.

ALSO READ | ‘Intentionally, Maliciously Mischaracterised’: Jimmy Kimmel On His Remarks Against Charlie Kirk

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

News world 'His Mission Did Not Die': Erika Kirk Accepts 'Medal Of Freedom' For Late Husband Charlie

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