For years, the Presidential Medal of Freedom has been awarded to celebrities and political allies. But on Tuesday, President Donald Trump will posthumously award Charlie Kirk the highest civilian honor, reviving the medal’s original intent of recognizing those who have made extraordinary contributions to the security, ideals, and freedoms of the country.
Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10 while speaking at a college campus in Utah, allegedly by a left-wing radical who espoused Antifa ideology and transgender ideology.
Soon after Kirk’s assassination, Trump announced Kirk would posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. John F. Kennedy established the civilian honor in 1963, replacing Harry S. Truman’s Medal of Freedom. The award is intended to honor “any person who has made an especially meritorious contribution to (1) the security or national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, or (3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
And there is no one more deserving of such an honor than Kirk.
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As The Federalist’s Kylee Griswold wrote in these pages, Kirk “changed people’s minds about the most important issues of the day. He gave Americans, young and old, both language and courage to articulate their beliefs. He was effective. He was important. And he got political results.”
Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012 at the age of 18. Over the past decade, the organization has grown into perhaps the most prominent conservative political organization, mobilizing thousands of young Americans to engage in politics and participate in civic activism. Kirk gave Americans the arguments they needed to oppose the mass murder of babies. He taught Gen Z about the founding in a way that was relatable. He championed meritocracy, law and order, and secure elections. He helped define what “America First” meant.
In addition to Kirk’s devout Christianity — which he spread to people across the world — Kirk was a staunch defender of free speech, debate, and dialogue, so much so that it ultimately cost him his life. This commitment, among others, is precisely why Kirk is so deserving of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The founders understood that liberty depended on the free exchange of ideas.
In a 1787 letter, Thomas Jefferson wrote: “The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” Jefferson recognized the survival of the republic depended on free speech and dialogue, and Kirk took that responsibility to heart.
That’s why, through Turning Point, Kirk created spaces for young Americans to challenge ideas, share ideas, and engage in honest debate. It’s why he went to college campuses and asked those who disagreed with him to come to the front of the line. It’s why he went to hostile environments. Kirk understood you can’t turn your back on your fellow Americans who may have been led astray and needed convincing. It was Kirk’s courage and commitment to dialogue that ultimately cost him his life.
Kirk’s life was a testament to the principles that the founders championed — the principles that make America so great. Though he was murdered for defending these principles, Kirk’s legacy will never die. It’s now only further enshrined in history through the posthumously awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Brianna Lyman is an elections correspondent at The Federalist. Brianna graduated from Fordham University with a degree in International Political Economy. Her work has been featured on Newsmax, Fox News, Fox Business and RealClearPolitics. Follow Brianna on X: @briannalyman2