Trump to Posthumously Award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom as Manhunt Intensifies

by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, as federal and state investigators intensify their search for the assassin responsible for his death.

“Let me express the horror and grief of so many Americans at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk,” Trump said from the White House. “Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty, and an inspiration to millions and millions of people. I am pleased to announce that I will soon be awarding Charlie Kirk, posthumously, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”

The Assassination

Kirk, 31, founder and CEO of Turning Point USA and one of the most influential conservative voices in America, was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon during an open-air event at Utah Valley University while kicking off his “American Comeback” campus tour. He was fatally struck in the neck by a single rifle round fired from a rooftop perch roughly 200 yards away.

Authorities confirmed that the suspected shooter used a high-powered bolt-action hunting rifle. The weapon, identified as an older imported Mauser .30-06, was later recovered in a wooded area along with unspent cartridges inscribed with phrases linked to transgender and antifascist ideology.

The FBI’s Salt Lake City field office released images of a “person of interest,” described as a white male wearing a black hoodie emblazoned with an American flag and eagle, sunglasses, and a dark cap. Officials stressed that this individual has not been named a suspect but may hold key information about the case.

Progress in the Manhunt

Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason detailed how investigators tracked the gunman’s movements across campus, through stairwells, onto a rooftop, and later fled into a nearby neighborhood. Surveillance footage, cell phone recordings, and physical evidence–including footprints and palm prints–are now under forensic review.

“There is steady progress from photo recognition to weapons analysis, and we are narrowing down those we think may have been involved,” a senior law enforcement official told Just the News. “The coincidences and the evidence are pointing in a clear direction. Nothing is certain until you make arrests, but we have momentum.”

Investigators also revealed that some social media activity prior to the shooting hinted at possible foreknowledge of the attack, raising questions about accomplices or ideological networks tied to the crime.

National Reaction

Kirk’s assassination has stunned the nation and sparked renewed debate over political violence in America. His strong opposition to transgender ideology and left-wing movements had long drawn controversy and protest at his campus events.

Vice President JD Vance is expected to travel to Utah to pay his respects to the Kirk family, while President Trump said he plans to personally speak with Kirk’s widow, Erika, and their two young children.

“Charlie loved this country and he loved Jesus Christ,” Trump said. “He fought courageously for the soul of our youth and for the future of America. His legacy will never be forgotten.”

The FBI is urging anyone with information to contact its Salt Lake City field office. The shooter remains at large.

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