Trump to posthumously award Charlie Kirk highest US civilian honour

US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead this week in Utah, will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honour.

Speaking at a Pentagon ceremony marking the September 11, 2001 attacks, Trump opened his remarks by addressing Kirk’s killing, calling it a “heinous assassination.”

“Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people,” Trump said. “Our prayers are with his wonderful wife, Erika, and his beautiful children — fantastic people they are. We miss him greatly, yet I have no doubt that Charlie’s voice and the courage he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people, will live on.”

Trump said the award ceremony date has yet to be finalised but pledged a large gathering: “I can only guarantee you one thing: We will have a very big crowd, very, very big.”

Kirk, 31, rose from political newcomer to a central figure in Trump’s orbit. As co-founder of Turning Point USA, he spent the past decade touring college campuses to build conservative support, forging close ties with Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Vice President JD Vance. He was widely credited with helping the president make inroads with younger voters ahead of the 2024 election.

The announcement comes as the White House and the conservative movement absorb the shock of Kirk’s death, the latest in a series of violent political attacks this year.