‘True American Hero’: Trump Awards ‘Martyr For Truth’ Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom

President Donald Trump praised slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a “true American hero” as he posthumously honored the Turning Point USA founder with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, on Tuesday.

“We’re here to honor and remember a fearless warrior for liberty, [a] beloved leader who galvanized the next generation like nobody I’ve ever seen before,” Trump said at the White House. “[He was] an American patriot of the deepest conviction, the finest quality and the highest caliber — the late, great Charlie Kirk.”

The president, during a ceremony that included Kirk’s wife, Erika Kirk, Vice President JD Vance, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, said Kirk had an unmatched ability to connect with young voters.

Trump also noted Kirk was a faithful Christian — and found a way to mix in his recent joke that he was “not sure” he was going to make it to heaven. Kirk, Trump said, was surely there, after being murdered at an event in Utah last month.

“Charlie never missed an opportunity to remind us of the Judeo-Christian principles of our nation’s founding, or to share his deep Christian faith,” Trump said.

“In his final moments, Charlie testified to the greatness of America and to the glory of our Savior, with whom he now rests in heaven — and he is going to make heaven. I said, I’m not sure I could make it, but he’s going to make it. He’s there. He’s looking down on us right now. So incredible.”

The president then called Kirk a “martyr for truth and freedom,” as well as a staunch defender of free speech. He compared Kirk to other historic leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln, as well as great philosophers like Socrates.

There were also some moments of levity, like when Trump took a second to compliment Vance, who he said “put away” George Stephanopoulos — or “George Slopadapoulos” as the president said — during an ABC interview this past weekend.

Trump also joked he was not familiar with some of the characterizations of Kirk, following his death, as a pacifist who loved all his enemies.

“You know, I heard he loved his enemies,” Trump said. “And I said, ‘wait a minute, is that the same Charlie that I know? I’m not so sure.’ But I didn’t want to get into it.”

The president said he considered asking Erika Kirk if she could bump the ceremony to Friday, considering he was flying back from Israel. But once Trump heard Tuesday would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday, he said there was no chance he would push it back.

“I would not have missed this moment for anything in the world. Nothing,” Trump said.

You can watch a part of Trump’s speech above, via CNN.