Trump to award Charlie Kirk top honor amid crackdown on left-wing groups

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By Nandita Bose

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump is set to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a White House ceremony on Tuesday.

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

Kirk’s assassination has become a rallying point for the Republican president, who has used it to energize his base and push for sweeping measures by the state against what he calls “radical left extremism.”

The Trump administration has launched a broad crackdown on left-wing organizations, deploying multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and IRS, to investigate and disrupt groups accused of funding and organizing political violence.

At the same time, Trump has downplayed violence from right-wing groups, insisting political violence is primarily a problem rooted in the left. Experts say political violence is bipartisan, with historically more attacks inspired by right-wing ideology.

Officials have found no evidence that the suspect in Kirk’s shooting acted in concert with any group.

A key figure in conservative politics, Kirk mobilized young voters for Trump’s 2024 campaign. His influence was significant but divisive, marked by attacks on LGBTQ+ rights and civil rights. Supporters hailed him as a champion of free speech, while critics argue he helped mainstream extremist views.

Since his death, Trump has called Kirk a “martyr for American freedom” and vowed at his memorial service to carry on his work. In September, both the House of Representatives and Senate approved resolutions declaring October 14 a “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk.”

(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington, editing by Ross Colvin and Alistair Bell)