**Tuesday Marks the 32nd Birthday of Turning Point USA Founder**
Published Oct 14, 2025 • 3-minute read
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On Tuesday, President Donald Trump posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk, the activist whose life was tragically cut short and who inspired a generation of young conservatives, significantly influencing the nation’s political landscape.
The ceremony took place on what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday, just over a month after he was fatally shot while addressing an audience at Utah Valley University.
In a testament to Kirk’s close relationship with the administration, he became the first recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom during Trump’s second term. The president had previously spoken at Kirk’s funeral in September, referring to him as a “great American hero” and a “martyr” for freedom. Vice President JD Vance accompanied Kirk’s body back to Arizona on Air Force Two, alongside Kirk’s widow, Erika.
“We gather here to honor and remember a fearless warrior for liberty, a beloved leader who inspired the next generation like no one else, and an American patriot of the highest caliber,” Trump stated on Tuesday afternoon.
Regarding Kirk’s assassination, Trump remarked, “He was taken from us in the prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth, living his faith, and tirelessly fighting for a better and stronger America.”
The Presidential Medal of Freedom was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 to recognize individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the nation’s security, national interests, world peace, or significant cultural endeavors.
Tuesday’s event followed Trump’s return to the U.S. in the early hours after a brief trip to Israel and Egypt, where he celebrated a ceasefire agreement in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, a deal his administration played a key role in brokering.