US President Donald Trump posthumously awarded right-wing activist Charlie Kirk the nation's highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden on Tuesday.
Kirk, who would have turned 32 on the day of the ceremony, was shot dead on a university campus in Utah on September 10. His widow, Erika Kirk, accepted the award on his behalf.
Trump hailed Kirk as a "true American hero" whose organization, Turning Point USA, grew into the largest conservative youth group in the US. "We're entering his name forever into the eternal roster of true American heroes," Trump said, calling Kirk a "martyr for truth and freedom."
Erika Kirk delivered an emotional speech, wiping away tears as she thanked Trump.
"I have spent seven and a half years trying to find the perfect birthday gift for Charlie," she said. "But now I can say with confidence, Mr. President, that you have given him the best birthday gift he could ever have."
A polarizing figure, Kirk founded Turning Point USA at age 18 in 2012 and became known for promoting conservative values and challenging students with differing political views.
He was a vocal supporter of Trump and a prominent figure in his Make America Great Again movement. Critics accused Kirk of promoting racist, homophobic, transphobic and sexist views.
Tyler Robinson, a man in his early 20s, has been charged with Kirk's murder and could face the death penalty if convicted.
