Erika Kirk calls husband Charlie a ‘true free man’ while thanking Trump for Medal of Freedom

WASHINGTON, DC: Erika Kirk accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom on behalf of her late husband, conservative icon Charlie Kirk, delivering an emotional tribute to his life and legacy.

She gave the powerful speech during a White House ceremony in the Rose Garden on Tuesday, October 14, on what would have been Charlie’s 32nd birthday.

Erika Kirk honors Charlie Kirk’s legacy, says he lived and fought for freedom

Erika Kirk, while accepting the Presidential Medal of Freedom, said, "Thank you, Mr President, for honoring my husband in such a profound way. Charlie always admired your commitment to freedom."

She also offered thanks to first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and friends and family "watching from all around the world," as well as to Turning Point USA staff and chapters nationwide. Erika said, "You are the heartbeat of this future and of this movement. Everything Charlie built lives through you."

Additionally, she noted that the Presidential Medal of Freedom itself is rooted in America’s founding.

"The very existence of the Presidential Medal of Freedom reminds us that the national interest of the United States has always been freedom," Erika stated.

She further mentioned, "Our founders etched it into the preamble of our Constitution, and those words are not relics on parchment. They are a living covenant. The blessings of liberty are not man’s invention. They are God’s endowment."

Erika then recalled how Charlie often wrote about freedom.

"He believed that liberty was both a right and a responsibility. And he used to say that freedom is the ability to do what is right without fear. And that’s how he lived," she said.

"His name, Charles, literally means ‘free man.’ And that’s exactly who my husband was. From the time I met him, sitting across from him being interviewed about politics, philosophy and theology, I saw the fire in his soul. There was this divine restlessness within him that came from knowing God placed him on this earth to protect something very sacred. He never stopped fighting for people to experience freedom," she added.

Erika Kirk recalls Charlie Kirk’s faith-driven fight for freedom

Erika recalled that Charlie often said that "without God, freedom becomes chaos" and that liberty can only survive "when anchored to truth."

She also remembered him telling an audience, "The opposite of liberty isn’t law. It’s captivity. And the freest people in the world are those whose hearts belong to Christ."

Looking back on his years building Turning Point USA, Erika said, "While he was building an organization, he was also building a movement, one that called people back to God, back to truth, and a movement that was filled with courage."

Erika also shared, "Last year, his one birthday wish was to see the Oregon Ducks play Ohio State, and they won. Mr President, I can say with confidence that you have given him the best birthday gift he could ever have."

She spoke about Charlie’s final moments, saying, "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."

"Charlie wasn’t content to simply admire freedom. He wanted to multiply it. He wanted young people to taste it, understand it, and defend it. He wanted them to see that liberty isn’t selfish indulgence, it’s self-governance under God," Erika added.

She said that Charlie lived with fearless conviction every day.

"He didn’t fear being slandered. He didn’t fear losing friends. He stood for truth and stood for freedom. Everything else was just noise to him. And it’s because his confidence in Christ was absolute," Erika mentioned. 

Trump timed Medal of Freedom ceremony with Charlie Kirk’s 32nd birthday

President Donald Trump, who returned from a whirlwind Middle East peace mission, said, "I raced back halfway around the globe. I was going to call Erika and ask, 'Could you maybe move it to Friday?' but I didn't have the courage to call."

"But you know why I didn't call? Because I heard today was Charlie's birthday," the president added.

President Trump praised Charlie Kirk for always believing that peace in the Middle East could be achieved. He also hailed Kirk’s wisdom and activism in support of the conservative movement and his presidential campaign. The president said, "Without him, who knows, maybe we would have Kamala standing here today. That would not be good," referring to his former presidential rival in the 2024 campaign.

"Everything he did was historic. A true evangelist with the cause of freedom and the word of almighty God," Trump mentioned. The president also paid tribute to Erika, saying, "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'."

"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," Trump mentioned.