Charlie Kirk’s heartbroken widow, Erika Kirk, said on Friday that she wanted her husband to be remembered as a “martyr” and a person of religion.
Mrs Kirk made the remarks in her first public statement since her husband, a hugely influential conservative activist and committed Christian, was assassinated at a university campus in Utah on Wednesday.
“Charlie will stand at his Saviour’s side wearing the fantastic crown of a martyr,” she said, adding that he “desired to be remembered for his courage and for his faith”.
Mrs Kirk gave the emotional tribute from her husband’s podcasting studio next to the empty chair where he used to sit down for his broadcasts.
She was dropped at tears as she remembered Kirk as a person who “loved his life” and “loved America”.
“He loved nature, which helped him at all times bring him closer to God. He loved the Chicago Cubs and, my goodness, did he love the Oregon Ducks.
“Most of all, Charlie loved his children, and he loved me with all of his heart, and I knew that day by day,” she said.
She publicly thanked Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, and President Donald Trump for his or her friendship and support in the times following her husband’s murder.
She vowed to proceed her husband’s work on the organisation he founded, Turning Point USA, saying that its upcoming annual conference and ‘The American Comeback Tour’ would go ahead as planned.
“There might be much more tours within the years to return,” she said.
Trump said on Thursday that Kirk could be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The President made the announcement while speaking at a memorial service for the September 11 terror attacks.
He described Kirk, who was a staunch supporter of Trump, as a “giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to tens of millions and tens of millions of individuals”.
He added, “Our prayers are together with his wonderful wife, Erika and his beautiful children, implausible people they’re.
“We miss him greatly, yet I even have little doubt that Charlie’s voice and the courage he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people, will survive.”
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the best civilian award within the United States. Notable recipients include Mother Teresa, Margaret Thatcher, Rosa Parks, Bob Dylan, Tiger Woods and Walt Disney.
Kirk was shot and killed on Wednesday while speaking at a campus event in Utah. It is believed the gunman fired a single shot from the roof of a close-by constructing.
On Friday President Trump told Fox News that the prime suspect within the killing had been arrested.
The suspect has been named by authorities as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, of Utah.
It has been reported that he was persuaded to show himself in after confessing to his father and a family friend who was a minister.
The authorities are yet to declare a motive but have confirmed that anti-fascist slogans were etched on two unused bullet casings found after the shooting.
Kirk was the founding father of Turning Point USA, an organisation dedicated to spreading conservative values amongst college students.
He has variously been described as “far-right”, “right-wing” and as “America’s last moderate”. He was generally against immigration and abortion, and was sceptical of pro-LGBT ideology.
 Charlie Kirk's heartbroken widow, Erika Kirk, said on Friday...){kind=link}