Is a Christian Cross engraved on Charlie Kirk's Medal of Freedom? Video goes viral

Erika Kirk received a posthumous Medal of Freedom for Charlie Kirk, featuring a Christian cross, a first for the award, sparking social media buzz.

Published on: Oct 15, 2025, 07:43:20 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Erika Kirk received the posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom for her slain husband, Charlie Kirk, from Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. After the emotional award ceremony, a video of the medal surfaced, with Erika Kirk likely holding it. In the video, a Christian cross could be seen engraved on the medal.

US President Donald Trump presents the Medal of Freedom to Erika Kirk, wife of slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. (REUTERS)

The video was widely shared on social media, especially by other right-wing content creators, such as Benny Johnson and Nick Sortor. They claimed that the Christian cross engraving on the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the US, is the first time for any awardee.

Normally, the Medal of Freedom award has a blue center with white stars spangled on it. But, as per the videos shared on social media, in the case of Charlie Kirk, it had a Christian cross in it.

Here's a video of the medal shared by Benny Johnson, purportedly showing the Christian cross on it.

Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and the founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated by suspect 22-year-old Tyler Robinson at an event at Utah Valley University on September 10.

Erika Kirk Pays Tribute To Late Husband In Emotional Speech

As she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on behalf of her late husband, Erika Kirk was emotional. Notably, the day of the award coincided with Charlie Kirk's birth date, October 14. She thanked Trump for honoring Charlie Kirk "in such a profound and meaningful way.”

Also read: Was Erika Kirk married to Derek Chelsvig before Charlie? Here's the truth behind ‘ex-husband’ theory

"Thank you for making this event a priority amid the peace process in the Middle East,” she said. “Charlie always admired your commitment to freedom.”

At the end of her speech, she delivered a birthday message from their daughter. It read: “Happy birthday, daddy. I want to give you a stuffed animal. I want you to eat a cupcake with ice cream, and I want you to go have a birthday surprise. I love you.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.