Charlie Kirk was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, Tuesday by President Trump.
“A true American hero” is how Trump remembered the Turning Point USA founder, who would’ve been celebrating his 32nd birthday today, a bittersweet remembrance of a voice that was taken from us far too soon.
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“It was a horrible, heinous, demonic act of murder,” Trump said. “He was assassinated in the prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth, for living his faith, and relentlessly fighting for a better and stronger America.”
Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk, accepted the award on his behalf, saying he gave his entire life to defending freedom.
Charlie Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10th, while he was addressing an audience on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
The news hit me on a personal level. During my time as a reporter at Fox News, I covered the “campus craziness” beat. Whenever I needed a comment on a story that seemed too absurd to be real, I knew who to call. Charlie was always my first choice, and he never failed to deliver a quote that was witty, incisive, and unafraid.
I remember sending him one particular story: “College allows freshmen to opt out of anti-stress program if too stressed.”
His response was quintessential Charlie. “This sort of nonsense would be most appropriately put into a Monty Python skit, where parody has become reality, and reality a parody of itself,” he told me. He saw the bigger picture, adding, “This is dangerous for a country and a culture, and our colleges should be embarrassed with the type of students they are producing.”
He saw things with a clarity that cut through the noise.
That was the Charlie Kirk millions came to admire. He was a debater who willingly walked into the lion’s den of college campuses, not to shout, but to reason. Whether he was discussing why abortion is wrong or why men should get married, Charlie defined his terms and argued with logic and reason, grounded firmly in biblical principles. He never shied away from the truth, no matter how unpopular.
In the weeks since his tragic death, a powerful movement has taken shape online. Across social media, you’ll see videos and posts with a simple, defiant declaration: “I am Charlie Kirk.”
This isn’t just a hashtag; it’s a promise. It’s a commitment from a generation he inspired to pick up the mantle he was forced to lay down. It’s a pledge to be courageous, to speak truth in the public square, and to engage with ideas, not run from them.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is more than a piece of metal. It’s a symbol that a voice dedicated to truth can never truly be silenced. It validates the importance of the mission Charlie championed.
That is why I, along with thousands of others, am making that same commitment today. We will honor Charlie’s life and legacy by boldly sharing the truth and publicly confessing Christ as Lord. His mission isn’t over. Now, it’s ours. We are all Charlie Kirk.
TPUSA posted a graphic with “31 ways to live like Charlie Kirk,” from honor the Sabbath to pick up the mic:
How will you honor Charlie?
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Caleb Parke is an independent journalist. Follow him on X, Facebook, Instagram, and connect with him at calebparke.com.
