Deadly assault: Trump honors slain Charlie Kirk with US Medal of Freedom | EUROtoday

US President Donald Trump honored the slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk with the US’s highest civilian honor. The Republican stated at a ceremony within the Rose Garden of the White House that it was an honor to posthumously award the so-called Medal of Freedom to Kirk. Widow Erika Kirk accepted the award rather than her slain husband, who would have turned 32 this Tuesday.

“We forever add his name to the eternal list of true American heroes,” Trump stated of Charlie Kirk. He made his group Turning Point USA the most important conservative youth group within the nation. Among different issues, Kirk fought for freedom of expression and a “proud America.”

Erika Kirk thanked the US President in an emotional speech, repeatedly wiping away tears. The widow stated she spent seven and a half years looking for the right birthday current for her husband. “But now I can say with confidence, Mr. President, that you gave him the best birthday present he could ever receive.”

Controversial defender of freedom of expression

Her husband was shot about 5 weeks in the past whereas talking open air on a college campus within the state of Utah. The suspect, Tyler Robinson, who’s in his early 20s, is charged with homicide, amongst different issues. If convicted, he faces the dying penalty.

Charlie Kirk made a reputation for himself as a champion of freedom of expression. With his group Turning Point USA, which he based in 2012 on the age of 18, he visited universities and challenged college students – particularly these with completely different political opinions – to debate. Critics accused him of racist, homophobic, transphobic and sexist views. Kirk supported Trump in his election marketing campaign and was an influential consultant of his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) motion.