Editor’s note: President Donald Trump announced, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, he will posthumously award Charlie Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, on what would have been the political activist’s 32nd birthday. Kirk was assassinated Wednesday, September 10. The next day, Trump praised Kirk: “Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty, and an inspiration to millions and millions of people.” Aside from the Congressional Medal of Honor [for military only], Trump said the Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest honor a person can be awarded.
This response was submitted by Contributing Writer Arthur C. Donart, Ph. D.
I can’t say that I had never heard of Charlie Kirk, because I have. Although I never paid much attention to him, because he was just spouting the “party line” at various college campuses. There is nothing wrong with that, if what you are telling is true, morally responsible, and necessary.
Having never attended one of his rallies, I have only secondhand sources, by which I can make a judgement, such as press reports, radio, and television news, etc. To me, he seemed to be a part of the Stephen Miller-Donald J. Trump echo chamber and nothing more. I’ve read conservative thinkers like George Will and William Buckley. They did not simply tow the party line, but often were critical as well. Charlie Kirk was no thinker.
President Trump awarded Charlie the highest civilian honor after his murder. So, what was his great contribution that merits such an honor? He certainly wasn’t another Rosa Parks nor a George Washington Carver.
There is nothing “heroic” about race hatred, antisemitism, or derogatory jokes about different ethnic populations.
Our Christianity teaches us that all are God’s children, and our God loves all of them–even our enemies.
It would be quite impossible to put Charlie Kirk in the “saint” category. He certainly was no Mother Teresa or Dorothy Day. He did not advocate humane treatment of migrants, nor an end to poverty. He was making money peddling hatred and mistrust; hardly saint-like endeavors. I would hope that the students listening to him were listening critically and fact checking!
What we say can have repercussions that are good, bad, or nonsense. The Supreme Court has ruled that you cannot yell “fire!” in a crowded theater–if, in fact, there is no fire.
Some years ago, I was Cape Town, South Africa to see Bishop Desmond Tutu and attended Mass at the Episcopal Church. The priest was giving a homily on the dangers of gossip. He advised, “Don’t speak, unless what you are going to say is true, kind, and necessary.”
Good advice for all of us. This cannot be said of the late Charlie Kirk.