Studying Time: 3 minutes
As we beforehand reported, Donald Trump awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the late Charlie Kirk on Tuesday.
The ceremony happened on what would have been Kirk’s thirty second birthday.
The occasion largely went off with out a hitch, however there have been some uncommon moments, together with one wherein Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk, felt the necessity to right Trump on the character of her husband’s character.
US President Donald Trump and Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, take part in a Medal of Freedom Ceremony for late US right-wing activist Charlie Kirk within the Rose Backyard of the White Home in Washington, DC, on October 14, 2025. (Picture by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP by way of Getty Photos)
The surprising second of rigidity rapidly went viral with many social media customers expressing confusion over the odd scene.
When addressing the gang finally month’s Charlie Kirk memorial in Arizona, Erika described her late husband as a person who inspired “love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.”
Maybe jokingly, Trump pushed again on the characterization throughout his handle on Tuesday.
“He was able to fight people that were enemies, and he didn’t necessarily love those enemies so much,” the president stated, including:
“You know, I heard he loved his enemies, and I said, ‘Wait a minute, is that the same Charlie that I knew?’ I’m not sure. But I didn’t want to get into it.”
US President Donald Trump and Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, take part in a Medal of Freedom Ceremony for late US right-wing activist Charlie Kirk within the Rose Backyard of the White Home in Washington, DC, on October 14, 2025. (Picture by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Picture by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP by way of Getty Photos)
The remark prompted Erika to answer, “He did pray for his enemies. I saw him do it.”
The second of rigidity handed rapidly, however issues took one other unusual flip shortly thereafter, when Trump revealed that he had initially needed to postpone the ceremony however had a last-minute change of coronary heart.
“I was going to call Erika and say, ‘Erika, could you maybe move it to Friday?’” he instructed the gang.
Some observers had been additionally greatly surprised by Trump’s choice to debate his political agenda and the assassination try he survived final 12 months.
Erika Kirk, spouse of late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, turns into emotional as she speaks after U.S. President Donald Trump posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Charlie Kirk throughout a ceremony within the Rose Backyard of the White Home on October 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Picture by Alex Wong/Getty Photos)
“I made a turn at a good time. I made a turn at a good time, I turned to the right,” Trump stated.
“Charlie couldn’t believe it, actually. He said, ‘How the hell did you make that turn?’ I said, ‘I don’t know.’”
All in all, it was an uncommon occasion that prompted questions on Trump’s relationship with each Erika Kirk and with the evangelical element of his base.
It received’t be the final time that Trump talks about Charlie Kirk — however he’ll doubtless attempt to keep away from such awkwardness in future discussions.
