Charlie’s voice will live on, Trump tells 9/11 memorial servicepublished at 15:10 British Summer Time
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from Washington DC
Image source, ReutersI’m currently at the Pentagon, where just moments ago President Trump stepped into the lectern at a memorial service for 9/11.
He began his remarks by addressing the death of Charlie Kirk directly as he spoke to a crowd of several dozen people, including service members in uniform and families of those who fell on 9/11.
“We miss him greatly,” Trump told the crowd. “Yet I have no doubt that Charlie’s voice and the courage that he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people, will live on”.
Trump then announced the he will posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honour that a civilian can be awarded in the US.
“I can only guarantee you one thing – that we will have a very big crowd,” he said. “Very, very big.”
As he spoke, I saw several members of the crowd, including civilians and several dressed in Army and Marine Corps uniforms, nodding silently.
The significance of Charlie’s death was also remarked upon by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who compared him to those who perished on 9/11.
“Charlie; we love you,” he said. “Well done, good and faithful servant.”