In a poignant ceremony at the White House Rose Garden, President Donald Trump honored Charlie Kirk with the Medal of Freedom on what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday.

Erika, Kirk’s widow and mother of their two children, was visibly moved as she accepted the nation’s highest civilian honor from the president. The ceremony took place on Tuesday, with Erika wiping away tears as the medal was presented.

The event drew notable attendees, including members of the president’s cabinet such as JD Vance and his wife Usha, as well as Donald Trump Jr. and prominent conservative media personalities like Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham. Family and friends of Kirk were also present to witness the tribute.

President Trump, who had just returned from an intense peace mission in the Middle East, shared a personal reflection during the ceremony. “I traveled halfway around the world to be here today. I thought about calling Erika to see if we could reschedule to Friday, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it,” he admitted.

“And you know the reason I didn’t make that call? Today is Charlie’s birthday,” Trump concluded, highlighting the significance of the occasion.

Trump praised Charlie for always believing that peace in the Middle East could be done.

The president, who yesterday speculated on the afterlife as a reporter questioned him on Air Force One, said: ‘[Charlie] is gonna make heaven. I said, I’m not sure I can make it. But he’s gonna make it. He’s there, looking down on us right now.’ 

The president also paid a touching tribute to Charlie’s wife Erika, now the CEO of the conservative’s Turning Point USA foundation that inspired young people across college campuses.

Erika Kirk wipes her eyes as a military aide reads the citation before President Donald Trump posthumously awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Erika Kirk’s eyes well up with tears as Trump pays tribute to her late husband in the Rose Garden of the White House, Tuesday

Erika Kirk (L), wife of late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, arrives with U.S. President Donald Trump as he posthumously awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House

Trump arrives with Erika Kirk to posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk in the Rose Garden 

Erika Kirk (L), wife of late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, arrives with U.S. President Donald Trump as he posthumously awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk 

U.S. President Donald Trump walks with Erika Kirk, wife of slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk 

‘I was with him before I met Erika. And he told me he was going to get married. He said, “You won’t believe how beautiful she is”‘, Trump recounted.

‘But then he also said, “And you know what? She’s like the smartest person I know.”

‘See, they do go together on occasion. Not often. Not often. But on occasion, they go together.’

For the past month, senior members of the team rallied to Erika’s side to help bolster Kirk’s organization Turning Point USA, the conservative behemoth organization built to help motivate and inspire young people.

Although the president’s attention has been directed at the successful Israeli peace deal with Gaza, he was determined to get back to the White House in time for Tuesday afternoon’s ceremony.

Vice President JD Vance sits with his wife Usha Vance prior to a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House

Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend Bettina Anderson arrive at the Rose Garden

Fox News Channel Laura Ingraham and Sean Hannity arrive at the Rose Garden

Political commentator Tucker Carlson attends a ceremony held by U.S. President Donald Trump to posthumously award the Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, left, greets Attorney General Pam Bondi, as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick looks on, before President Donald Trump arrives to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom for Charlie Kirk

US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro attends 

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth talks to his wife Jennifer Rauchet 

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Rose Garden

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel

US House Speaker Mike Johnson (R), Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (2nd R), Donald Trump Jr. (2nd L) and his girlfriend Bettina Anderson attend a Medal of Freedom Ceremony for late US righty-wing political activist Charlie Kirk 

Pete Hegseth sits near Argentina’s President Javier Milei as they attend the ceremony for Charlie Kirk

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles arrives before President Donald Trump posthumously awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk

Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, gestures next to U.S. President Donald Trump during a memorial service for slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk

Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University during the first stop of his campus speaking tour. 

Trump announced his intention to posthumously award Kirk the nation’s highest civilian honor during remarks at the Pentagon commemorating the 9/11 attacks, just days after the assassination. 

Kirk had built Turning Point USA into one of the most influential conservative youth organizations in America, known for its campus activism and annual conferences that drew thousands of young conservatives.

After Kirk’s death, Erika publicly delivered a statement vowing to carry on his work as the new CEO of the organization. 

Trump memorably eulogized Kirk at his memorial service days later and comforted Erika who mourned the loss of her husband. 

‘We know the weight of this monumental loss is almost unbearable,’ he said. ‘But even in the midst of heartache and pain too great to even fathom, you have somehow found the strength and deep faith to be a comfort to millions and millions of people.’  

More than 60,000 people attended the service which was held at State Farm Stadium, which hosts the Arizona Cardinals NFL team.