On Tuesday, President Donald Trump stood in the Rose Garden to honor the late Charlie Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It was what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday. His widow, Erika, accepted the award with tears in her eyes.
Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, was killed last month while speaking at Utah Valley University. Even though he built one of the loudest youth movements on the right, he was also a deeply divisive figure known for spreading anti-trans views, COVID conspiracy theories, and constant attacks on the media.
Trump praised him as “a great American patriot,” recalling Kirk’s role in helping him reach Gen Z voters. But the tone shifted when Trump veered off script.
“They seem to become very violent on the left,” he said. “They’ve rammed vehicles into federal law enforcement, fired sniper rifles at ICE agents and me, you know, but I made a turn at a good time.”
Trump at the Charlie Kirk memorial event: “They fired sniper rifles at ICE agents, and me. But I made a turn at a good time. I made a turn at a good time. Charlie couldn’t believe it, actually.” pic.twitter.com/QDyFIKdKYQ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 14, 2025
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The crowd went silent. Trump had just mentioned surviving sniper fire while honoring a man who died from it.
A lot of people weren’t surprised. Trump always makes it about himself, even in moments like this. Some even call him a sociopath.
I am no Charlie Kirk fan but this is so incredibly disgusting, even for Trump. He continually proves he is an unfeeling sociopath incapable of even pretending to have even a semblance of normal human feeling or a single shred of sensitivity. https://t.co/ciyJdGP7tl
— Spiro’s Ghost (@AntiToxicPeople) October 14, 2025
Of course this Orange toned narcissistic egomaniac is making the event about him.
— Dj Omega Mvp (@DjOmegaMVP) October 14, 2025
Insane. He’s bragging about not being murdered at a ceremony honoring a guy who was murdered.
— Blue Georgia (@BlueATLGeorgia) October 14, 2025
It’s almost like Trump is criticizing Charlie for not being able to move out of the way? This is some bizarre shit.
— Denison Barb (@DenisonBarbs) October 14, 2025
He never cared about charlie….its obvious now…all those MAGAs kiss his ass and he dont care about now of them…too bad they are too brainwashed beyond repair at this point to see it pic.twitter.com/GdlRVTIF20
— Mar (@Mardabadguy) October 14, 2025
Always about him. ALWAYS! pic.twitter.com/iuOgN1wJvk
— Robyn Beth ☮️ (@robyn103) October 14, 2025
I thought he was supposed to be memorializing his friend.
— Farrah Oxford (@OxfordFarr66929) October 14, 2025
As always making it about himself!
— Maxwell Black (@Coreandor) October 14, 2025
He’s bragging he’s so much better at dodging bullets than Charlie. Unbelievable.
— The Great Gig in the Sky (@thegreatgig8) October 14, 2025
Always has to somehow make it about him.
— Susan Madden Goodell (@skgoodell) October 14, 2025
Bragging he lived and his “friend” didn’t….that’s on brand but so gross
— Randy Rosado (@randyrosado99) October 14, 2025
He’s actually taking credit for moving his head strictly by-chance?? At a memorial event for a supposed friend who was assassinated???
— Broncav711 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@Broncav711) October 14, 2025
This is so awful. Totally tone deaf. I dont see why or how people worship him so much.
— HuskerKia (@NeKiaDavenport) October 14, 2025
Is Trump blaming Charlie Kirk for not dodging a bullet? Of course Charlie couldn’t believe it. He wasn’t expecting to be murdered by a sniper! This is sick.
— Devin Nunes’ Secret Department of Justice Subpoena (@nunes_secret) October 14, 2025
He cannot help himself
He has to make Everything
About HIM— just TameBeaz (@tameHntr) October 14, 2025
Psychopath narcissist make event about himself. Whether you liked Charlie Kirk or not this is disgusting. pic.twitter.com/V4OdyRmst4
— Grant Cameron (@Grant_Cameron37) October 14, 2025
Charlie Kirk’s influence in conservative politics was huge. He built a youth movement that gave Trump a new generation of voters and remained one of the few figures to stand by him after January 6. Trump often called him “a friend” and “a fighter.”
Featured image via X screengrab