By Eniola Amadu
President Donald Trump on Thursday used a Pentagon memorial service marking the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to announce that slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Kirk, who was fatally shot on Wednesday during a campus event in Utah, was described by Trump as “a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions.”
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The president extended condolences to Kirk’s wife, Erika, and their children, adding that the date of the award ceremony would be announced at a later time.
Trump then shifted focus to the 9/11 attacks, recalling how “time itself stood still” on that morning when 2,977 people were killed.
He read aloud some of the final words passengers aboard the hijacked planes shared with their families and reiterated America’s vow to remember the victims.
“In America, we take blows, but we never buckle. We bleed, but we do not bow,” Trump said.
“We defy the fear, endure the flames, and emerge stronger, prouder and greater than ever before.”
The president also referenced his administration’s decision to rename the Department of Defence as the Department of War, describing the change as a reflection of U.S. resolve against threats.
“If you attack the United States of America, we will hunt you down, and we will find you,” he said.
The ceremony honoured the 184 people killed when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon.
Attendees included First Lady Melania Trump, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Caine highlighted the resilience displayed by Americans in the aftermath of the attacks.
Hegseth, recalling his experience as a college junior in Army ROTC at the time, said the tragedy solidified his sense of duty to defend the country.
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He also cautioned against allowing war to become “a mere tool for global social work.”
Officials also paid tribute to Kirk, with Hegseth describing him as “an American patriot” whose example would continue to inspire others.
