US President Donald Trump on Tuesday awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honour, to slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, calling him a “fearless warrior for liberty” during a Rose Garden ceremony.

Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University — an attack that shocked the nation and reignited debates over political violence.

“Today we honor and remember a beloved leader who galvanised the next generation like nobody I’ve ever seen before,” Trump said, praising Kirk’s influence on young conservatives and his role in Trump’s 2024 campaign.

Since the killing, Trump has portrayed Kirk as a “martyr for American freedom”, using the tragedy to rally his base and justify a sweeping cr

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