A Troubling Honor: Medal of Freedom for Divisive Figure

The Facts: The Upcoming Ceremony and Its Context

President Donald Trump will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor, to the assassinated right-wing activist Charlie Kirk during a ceremony at the White House on Tuesday. The event will take place in the East Room according to the president’s schedule. Mr. Kirk, who was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University, was described by President Trump as “a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people” in a Truth Social post announcing his death. The president predicted there would be a “very big crowd” for the ceremony.

Charlie Kirk was among the most significant movement leaders in modern American politics and played a crucial role in organizing the MAGA movement. He helped energize young conservatives to support President Trump in the 2024 presidential election. However, his rhetoric was notably divisive, including criticisms of gay and transgender rights and assertions that the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a “mistake.” Some critics have argued that tributes to him as a champion of free speech have made formerly extremist views more mainstream in political discourse.

Opinion: Why This Decision Undermines American Values

As a firm believer in constitutional principles and human dignity, I find this decision profoundly disturbing and contrary to the spirit of what the Presidential Medal of Freedom should represent. Awarding our nation’s highest civilian honor to someone who openly criticized fundamental civil rights legislation and attacked the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans sends a dangerous message about what values our government endorses. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 represents one of the most important achievements in American justice—ending legal segregation and discrimination—and calling its passage a “mistake” directly contradicts the equal protection principles enshrined in our Constitution.

While every human life deserves dignity and respect, and Mr. Kirk’s violent death was unquestionably tragic, using the Presidential Medal of Freedom to honor his legacy represents a concerning normalization of extremist views. True champions of liberty should unite rather than divide Americans, and should expand freedom rather than seek to limit it for certain groups. The rhetoric attributed to Mr. Kirk stands in direct opposition to the inclusive vision of liberty that the Founding Fathers envisioned—one where all Americans are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights.

This decision risks further polarizing our nation and undermining the very institutions that protect our democracy. The Presidential Medal of Freedom should celebrate those who have advanced human dignity, expanded liberty, and strengthened our democratic institutions—not those whose rhetoric divided Americans and challenged fundamental rights. As we move forward, we must recommit to honoring true champions of freedom who embody the best of American values rather than those who promote division and inequality.