President Donald Trump gave a self-congratulating speech on Tuesday as he posthumously awarded conservative activist Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The award ceremony took place in the White House Rose Garden, on what would’ve been Kirk’s 32nd birthday. Kirk was killed on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. His widow, Erika Kirk, accepted the award on his behalf.
“Thank you, Mr. President, for honoring my husband in such a profound and meaningful way,” she said. “And thank you for making this event a priority amid the peace process in the Middle East.”
In a rambling speech at the ceremony, Trump praised Kirk as much as he praised himself and his allies. He took time to highlight his “very historic trip” to Israel, thanked several members of his administration who were in attendance and claimed “people are loving” the newly renovated Rose Garden.
At one point, Trump even asked the audience to listen to nearby emergency vehicle sirens as he claimed to have reduced crime in Washington, D.C.
“You hear those sirens going off. That's good. That's a good sound,” Trump said. “That means they either got the bad guy or they're going to stop the bad guy.”
Key Points
- Charlie Kirk's widow accepts Presidential Medal of Freedom on his behalf
- Charlie Kirk’s legacy is inextricably tied to Trump — and his Medal of Freedom speech let everyone know it
- Trump suggests U.S. could take action against Hamas if group does not disarm themselves
- Trump threatens to ask FIFA boss to relocate World Cup games
Watch: Trump threatens to take away World Cup games from cities who don't cooperate with him
01:00 , Katie HawkinsonTrump claims The View co-host called him ‘greatest president’ as he rails against her over MAGA hat controversy
00:30 , Caitlin HornikPresident Donald Trump took aim Tuesday at his ex-aide and current co-host on The View, Alyssa Farah Griffin, despite his claims that she sent him two “glowing” letters after she stopped working for him.
Read more:
Trump rails against View co-host who called him ‘greatest president’ over controversy
Watch: Trump presents Charlie Kirk's Presidential Medal of Freedom to his widow
00:00 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump presented slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk's Presidential Medal of Freedom to his widow, Erika Kirk, on Tuesday.
.@POTUS presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded posthumously to the late Charlie Kirk, to his wife, Mrs. Erika Kirk 🙏 pic.twitter.com/T28dH9Gk4S
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 14, 2025
In pictures: Charlie Kirk's Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony
23:30 , Katie Hawkinson
Who else has Donald Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
23:08 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump posthumously awarded Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom today.
The president has also announced he’ll be giving the award to Dr. Ben Carson and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is considered the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Trump honored 24 people with the prestigious award in his first term. Recipients included Elvis Presley, former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, golfer Tiger Woods and conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh.
Former President Barack Obama awarded medals to 118 people across his two terms, while former President Joe Biden awarded medals to 57 people, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Trump administration revoked six visas over Charlie Kirk-related speech: report
22:54 , Katie HawkinsonThe State Department has revoked visas from six foreigners who were deemed to have made derisive comments about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to the Associated Press.
U.S. officials determined their visas should be revoked after reviewing their social media accounts for posts about Kirk, the outlet reports.
Charlie Kirk’s legacy is inextricably tied to Trump — and president’s Medal of Freedom speech let everyone know it
22:46 , Andrew Feinberg, John BowdenPresident Donald Trump on Tuesday posthumously awarded the nation’s highest civilian honor to Charlie Kirk, the late Turning Point USA founder, calling him “a true American hero” whose name would be “entered forever into the eternal roster of American heroes” on what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday.
Keep reading:
Trump makes Charlie Kirk’s Medal of Freedom speech all about himself
Erika Kirk shares emotional birthday message from her daughter
22:32 , Katie HawkinsonErika Kirk teared up as she shared an emotional birthday message for Charlie Kirk from their three-year-old daughter.
“She said: ‘Happy birthday, daddy. I want to give you a stuffed animal. I want you to eat a cupcake with ice cream, and I want you to go have a birthday surprise,’” Erika Kirk said.
Erika Kirk said her late husband’s life was “proof that freedom is not a theory, it's a testimony.”
“Happy birthday, my Charlie. Happy Freedom Day,” she said.
Charlie Kirk would've run for president if he 'believed his country needed' him, his widow says
22:28 , Katie HawkinsonErika Kirk said her late husband, Charlie Kirk, may have considered running for president later in his life.
“There was no limit to what he would have sacrificed to defend freedom for all,” she said. “And if the moment had come, he probably would have run for president, but not out of ambition. He would only have done it if that was something that he believed that his country needed, from a servant's heart standpoint.”
Erika Kirk thanks Trump for giving her late husband the 'best birthday gift'
22:25 , Katie HawkinsonCharlie Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, thanked President Donald Trump for giving her late husband the "best birthday gift he could ever have."
Today would’ve been the conservative activist’s 32nd birthday.
“He preferred quiet birthdays, but that never stopped me from telling him — I told him every single year — I said, ‘Baby, I love your birthday. ‘I said, ‘Because it's the day that God knew the world couldn't go another day without you,’” Erika Kirk said.
Erika Kirk accepts award on behalf of her late husband
22:14 , Katie HawkinsonCharlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom on her late husband’s behalf.
“Thank you, Mr. President, for honoring my husband in such a profound and meaningful way,” Erika Kirk said. “And thank you for making this event a priority amid the peace process in the Middle East.”
Trump celebrates emergency sirens in DC: 'What a beautiful sound'
22:08 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump called the sound of emergency vehicle sirens in Washington, D.C., a “good sign” while speaking at Charlie Kirk’s Presidential Medal of Freedom award ceremony.
The remark came as Trump praised himself and claimed he had reduced crime rates in the nation’s capital.
“You hear those sirens going off. That's good. That's a good sound,” Trump said. “That means they either got the bad guy or they're going to stop the bad guy. You didn't hear that sound because nobody wanted to do anything.”
“Listen to the beauty of that sound, seriously. And that's the real deal,” he added. “Sirens, they're not politically correct. Sirens, you hear, they're about three miles away. That's great. What a beautiful sound.”
Trump claims Kirk couldn't believe he survived Butler assassination attempt
22:03 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump claimed Charlie Kirk “couldn’t believe” he survived the assassination attempt against him in Butler, Pennsylvania, last summer.
“On the left, they've rammed vehicles into federal law enforcement, fired sniper rifles at ICE agents and me, you know, but I made a turn at a good time,” Trump said at Kirk’s award ceremony today.
“I made a turn at a good time. I turned to the right. Charlie couldn't believe it, actually. He said, ‘How the hell did you make that turn?’ I said, ‘I don't know,’” he added.
Trump hits out at Kamala Harris during Charlie Kirk's award ceremony
22:00 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump used part of his speech at Charlie Kirk’s Presidential Medal of Freedom award ceremony to slam former Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Maybe you'd have Kamala standing here today. That would not be good. I will tell you, Javier, you don't know who Kamala is, I promise it would not be good,” Trump said, referring to Argentine President Javier Milei.
Milei is in attendance after meeting with Trump in the White House earlier today.
Charlie Kirk's parents appear to be absent from ceremony
21:57 , Katie HawkinsonCharlie Kirk’s parents, who have kept out of the public eye, were not mentioned as President Donald Trump listed notable attendees at today’s award ceremony.
Kirk’s parents similarly did not appear to be present at his public memorial last month.
Erika Kirk’s father is in attendance, Trump noted.
Trump highlights high-profile guests at Charlie Kirk's award ceremony
21:52 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump thanked several of his allies for attending Charlie Kirk’s posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom award ceremony today.
Trump used a portion of his remarks to thank several attendees, including Vice President JD Vance and Argentine President Javier Milei.
He also thanked several lawmakers.
“All these senators — I'm going to get in trouble, I'm not going to read all their names,” Trump said. “I'll be reading all day. We'll be talking about Charlie in about 45 minutes from now.”
Erika Kirk appears next to Trump as he speaks at award ceremony
21:43 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump is speaking at Charlie Kirk’s award ceremony, accompanied by his widow, Erika Kirk.
“Today we're here to honor and remember a fearless warrior for liberty, beloved leader who galvanized the next generation like nobody I've ever seen before, and an American patriot of the deepest conviction, the finest quality and the highest caliber: the late, great, Charlie Kirk,” Trump said.
What is the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
21:25 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump is posthumously awarding Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom today.
The award is the nation’s highest civilian honor and recognizes “a lifetime of significant achievements in the arts, public service, science, or other fields,” according to the Congressional Research Service.
Kirk was killed on September 10 at Utah Valley University. Today would have been his 32nd birthday.
Watch live: President Donald Trump awards Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom
21:08 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump is set to posthumously award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom today.
The conservative activist’s widow, Erika Kirk, is expected to accept the award on his behalf.
Watch the ceremony live from The Independent:
Watch: Trump lashes out at ABC News after Stephanopoulos and Vance interview
20:55 , Katie HawkinsonTrump threatens to ask FIFA boss to relocate World Cup games
20:48 , Andrew FeinbergPresident Trump has threatened to ask FIFA head Gianni Infantino to relocate upcoming World Cup games from cities that don't cooperate with his administration's efforts to militarize law enforcement in Democratic-run jurisdictions.
Asked about recent "street takeovers" in Boston that have dominated coverage in right-wing media in recent days, Trump said he "loves the people" there but complained that Boston Mayor Michelle Wu "is not good" while commenting that she was "at least ... intelligent" and comparing her unfavorably to "extremely low IQ" mayors in other cities — a term he has often used to refer to Black women.
He added that Wu "is hurting Boston" and said he could ask the games to be moved under certain conditions.
“If somebody is doing a bad job, and if I feel this unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni, the head of FIFA, who's phenomenal, and I would say, let's move it to another location. And he would do that. He would love to do it, but he'd do it very easily," he said.
Cheryl Hines roasted by The View co-host Sunny Hostin over husband RFK Jr’s circumcision and autism claims
20:40 , Caitlin HornikCheryl Hines found herself seemingly unprepared for the onslaught of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.-related questions Tuesday from The View ‘s co-hosts.
Anticipating a discussion about her forthcoming memoir, Unscripted, Hines instead found herself struggling to answer questions from the daytime talk show’s co-hosts about her husband’s politics.
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Cheryl Hines roasted by The View co-hosts over husband RFK Jr’s health claims
MTG lays into ‘weak Republican men’ in Congress as scorched-earth approach to her own party turns nuclear
20:25 , John BowdenIf Republican leaders and President Donald Trump were hoping Marjorie Taylor Greene would calm down after weeks of attacks on party policy — the MAGA firebrand just showed them she has no intention of doing any such thing.
Keep reading:
MTG lays into ‘weak Republican men’ in Congress as scorched-earth vitriol gets hotter
Trump says Democrats are 'getting killed on the shutdown'
20:08 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump said Tuesday that Democratic lawmakers are “getting killed on the shutdown” as he claimed his administration is shutting down “semi-communist programs.”
“So we're closing up programs that are Democrat programs that we wanted to close up or that we never wanted to happen, and now we're closing them up, and we're not going to let them come back,” Trump said. “The Democrats are getting killed.”
“We’re going to have a list of them on Friday, closing up some of the most egregious socialist, semi-communist — probably not full communist, we’re saving that for New York — but semi-communist programs, and we're closing them up,” he added.
It’s unclear which programs Trump was referencing.
The Trump administration has laid off more than 3,500 federal workers since the shutdown began on October 1. The Senate is scheduled to vote for an eighth time on a funding measure later today.
Trump says Hegseth finds the press 'very disruptive in terms of world peace'
20:02 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth finds the media “very disruptive in terms of world peace” when asked about the Pentagon’s new restrictions on reporters.
“I think he finds the press to be very disruptive in terms of world peace and maybe security for our nation,” Trump said of Hegseth. “The press is very dishonest.”
Most major news organizations have rejected Hegseth’s new restrictions, which the Pentagon Press Association labeled an “unprecedented message of intimidation.”
Justin Baragona has the details:
.jpg?trim=0,0,0,0&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800)
Only one news outlet has signed on to Hegseth’s media loyalty oath
Trump says he's 'disappointed' in Putin
19:49 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump said he’s “very disappointed” with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Look, I'm very disappointed, because Vladimir and I had a very good relationship. Probably still do,” Trump said. “I don't know why he continues with this war. This war has been so bad for him. He's going into four years of a war that he should have beaten, he should have won that war in one week. He's now going to soon be into his fourth year.”
Putin launched a full-scale offensive on Ukraine in February 2022.
"I had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin, but he just doesn't want to end that war, and I think it's making them look very bad he could end it he could end it quickly,” Trump added. “And I have to tell you I give credit, because who would think that Ukraine could have fought Russia for four years, to essentially a standstill."
Trump suggests U.S. could take action against Hamas if group does not disarm
19:35 , Andrew FeinbergPresident Trump just suggested the U.S. could take action against Hamas if the militant group does not voluntarily lay down its arms as part of the ceasefire deal signed on Monday.
Speaking during a bilateral meeting alongside Argentinian president Javier Milei, Trump said he'd received verbal assurances that Hamas would disarm pursuant to the agreement during a phone call with negotiators.
"I spoke to Hamas, and I said, you're going to disarm, right? Yes, sir, we're going to disarm. That's what they told me. They will disarm or we will disarm them," he said.
He later clarified that he'd received the assurances of Hamas' intention to disarm through his negotiating team, not directly from Hamas.
Trump calls Senator Elizabeth Warren 'nasty'
19:26 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump labelled his long-time political foe, Senator Elizabeth Warren, “nasty” as he spoke with reporters ahead of his meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei.
“She has no idea what she's doing,” Trump said. “Nasty, horrible senator.”
Trump hits out at George Stephanopoulos
19:24 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump hit out at ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos ahead of his meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei.
Trump said Vice President JD Vance had a “very nasty” interview with Stephanopoulos over the weekend, referring to the journalist as “George Slopidopoulos.”
He later declined to take a question from an ABC News reporter, calling the network “fake news.”
Stephanopoulos and Vance clashed over border czar Tom Homan during Sunday’s interview. Read the full story from John Bowden:
Vance in fiery exchange with ABC host on Homan bag of cash: ‘For doing what, George?’
Trump addresses $20B bailout for Argentina
19:18 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump addressed his administration’s $20 billion currency swap with Argentina.
A reporter asked the president to address how the package is “America first.”
“It’s really meant to help a good financial philosophy where Argentina can, after 20 years of disaster, because it was very successful at one point, and it can be again,” Trump replied.
Trump announces U.S. has struck another boat near Venezuela, killing six people
18:58 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the U.S. has struck another boat that he claims had ties to narcotics trafficking.
The strike killed six people on a boat off the coast of Venezuela this morning, Trump wrote. This marks the fifth strike against alleged drug traffickers in recent weeks.
It is unclear what evidence the Trump administration has to justify these strikes.
Trump says 'we'll find out' if Hamas holds up its end of ceasefire deal
18:44 , Katie HawkinsonWhen asked if Hamas is “holding up their end” of the ceasefire deal with Israel, President Donald Trump responded: “We’ll find out.”
The question came as Trump greeted Argentine President Javier Milei outside the White House.
A reporter also asked Trump for his message to the Argentine people.
“We love them,” Trump said, before praising Milei.
They’re now meeting in the White House.
Javier Milei arrives at White House
18:39 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump greeted Argentine President Javier Milei as he arrived at the White House moments ago.
The pair will now hold a bilateral meeting, which comes days after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a $20 billion currency exchange with Argentina.
Trump turns to Ukraine-Russia conflict with Zelensky visit. But he does not have the same leverage he had with Israel-Hamas
18:17 , Andrew FeinbergHot on the heels of a major diplomatic victory in Gaza that saw the remaining Israeli hostages released by Hamas, President Donald Trump is looking to repeat his success in a far more challenging arena: The nearly four-year-old Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Keep reading:
Trump turns back to Ukraine-Russia conflict with Zelensky visit after Gaza ‘peace’
Watch live: Argentine President Javier Milei arrives at White House
18:00 , Katie HawkinsonArgentine President Javier Milei will soon arrive at the White House for a bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump.
Watch his arrival live from The Independent:
Charlie Kirk's Medal of Freedom ceremony to take place in Rose Garden
17:58 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump said Tuesday that Charlie Kirk’s Presidential Medal of Freedom presentation has been moved to the White House’s newly renovated Rose Garden.
“Just got back from the Middle East. What a point in time it was!!! The crowd for Charlie K’s Presidential Medal of Freedom presentation is so big and enthusiastic that I moved it out to the new Rose Garden, where everyone can see the Presidential Wall of Fame and the Palm Court renovation,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, is expected to accept the award on his behalf.
Putin’s top ally warns if Trump gives missiles to Ukraine it could lead to ‘nuclear war’
17:46 , Joe SommerladBelarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, a loyal ally of Russia’s Vladimir Putin, has warned President Donald Trump that the U.S. handing subsonic Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine would mean “nuclear war.”
Keep reading:
Putin ally warns Trump giving missiles to Ukraine could mean ‘nuclear war’
What's on Trump's agenda today?
17:30 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump is set to welcome Argentine President Javier Milei to the White House for a bilateral meeting at 1 p.m. today.
Their meeting is expected to start around 1:15. Then, Trump will posthumously award conservative activist Charlie Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a ceremony set to start at 4 p.m.
His widow, Erika Kirk, will accept the award on his behalf.
‘Worst of all time’: Trump complains about ‘super bad photo’ on Time Magazine cover
17:16 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump called Time Magazine’s recent cover photo of him the “worst of all time.”
Read the full story:
Trump complains about how his hair looks in ‘super bad’ Time Magazine cover
White House budget office will continue layoffs
16:58 , Katie HawkinsonThe White House Office of Management and Budget said in a statement on X it is prepared to “ride out” the government shutdown.
“OMB is making every preparation to batten down the hatches and ride out the Democrats’ intransigence,” the agency said in a statement.
The office said it plans to “continue the RIFs,” also known as reduction-in-force notices, which have already been handed to some 3,500 federal employees.
Jeffries calls MTG 'surprisingly enlightened'
16:42 , Katie HawkinsonHouse Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene “surprisingly enlightened” after she broke with her own party this week over the Jeffrey Epstein files and healthcare subsidies.
“It does seem to many of us that she’s had a surprisingly enlightened few weeks,” Jeffries said told MSNBC on Monday.
Kelly Rissman has more on Greene’s recent shift away from her MAGA allies:
-speaks-during-a-news-conference-with-1.jpeg?width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800)
‘More Biden than Trump’: Republicans lament MTG’s push away from the party
Veteran Pentagon reporter mocks Hegseth’s ‘brave’ response to media outlets rejecting his press restrictions
16:30 , Justin BaragonaLongtime Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr took Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to task this week over his “brave” response on social media to news organizations that are refusing to sign his new press restrictions, which saw Hegseth use a hand-waving emoji.
Keep reading:
Veteran reporter mocks Hegseth’s ‘brave’ response to media amid Pentagon press fight
Canada’s prime minister caught on hot mic correcting Trump on his title after US leader’s gaffe
16:14 , Katie HawkinsonCanadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was caught on a hit mic joking with President Donald Trump after the U.S. leader mistakenly referred to him as Canada’s “president.”
Ariana Baio has the details:
Canadian prime minister caught on hot mic correcting Trump on his title
How many government workers have been laid off during the shutdown?
16:01 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump’s administration has issued layoff notices — also known as reduction in force notices — to thousands of federal employees amid the ongoing government shutdown.
More than 3,500 workers have lost their jobs, CNN reports. That includes more than 1,400 Treasury employees and 600 Health and Human Services employees.
This comes as Trump and his allies blame Democratic lawmakers for the shutdown. The Senate is set to vote for an eighth time today on a GOP funding measure.
Democrats are demanding the extension of healthcare tax credits, arguing they should be renewed before the open enrollment period for Affordable Care Act plans, which begins on November 1. Meanwhile, Republicans have argued it’s an issue for later, because these tax credits won’t expire until December 31st.
Mike Johnson to work with Israel's Knesset Speaker to rally support for Trump Nobel nomination
15:46 , Katie HawkinsonHouse Speaker Mike Johnson said he will work with Israel’s Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana to win support for President Donald Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize nomination.
Johnson and Ohana have both praised Trump’s role in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, which this week resulted in the release of Israeli hostages.
“No one has ever deserved that prize more, and that is an objective fact,” Johnson said on Tuesday, according to The Hill.
Noem claims to have found an ‘innovative’ solution to pay Coast Guard during shutdown. Nobody knows what it is
15:32 , Katie HawkinsonHomeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced that she found an “innovative solution” that will allow the U.S. Coast Guard to be paid during the government shutdown, but nobody knows what it is.
Kelly Rissman has the story:
Noem says she found an ‘innovative’ solution to pay Coast Guard during shutdown.
A third of Americans believe Trump’s rise to power is part of God’s plan as he leans further into MAGA evangelicalism
15:20 , Ariana BaioPresident Donald Trump’s second term has been peppered with more Christian rhetoric and policies — a strategy he’s seemingly taken to strengthen and expand his loyal base of evangelicals.
That appears to be working, with up to one-third of Americans believing his election was ordained by God, two polls suggest.
Keep reading:
A third of Americans believe Trump’s presidency is part of God’s plan
Trump to present Charlie Kirk’s Presidential Medal of Freedom to his widow
15:06 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump is set to posthumously present conservative activist Charlie Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Trump will present the award, which is the highest civilian honor, to his widow, Erika Kirk.
Joe Sommerlad has the full story:
Trump to present Charlie Kirk’s Presidential Medal of Freedom to his widow
Senate plans eighth vote on government funding
14:56 , Katie HawkinsonThe Senate is set to vote for an eighth time today on a measure to fund the government, as the shutdown approaches the two-week mark.
President Donald Trump said over the weekend that he’s directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15.”
President Trump to meet with Argentine president Javier Milei
14:46 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump will meet with Argentina’s President Javier Milei today.
This comes after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a $20 billion currency swap with Argentina on Thursday.
