GB News halted for breaking news as Trump awards late Charlie Kirk highest honour

GB News issued a breaking news update this evening (October 14) as President Donald Trump was seen posthumously awarding conservative activist Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The emotional ceremony took place on what would have been Charlie's 32nd birthday, with the Republican leader presenting the nation's highest civilian honour to Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, who accepted the medal on his behalf.

The ceremony comes after Trump returned back to Washington in the early hours of Tuesday morning from a trip to the Middle East to celebrate the historic ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that he brokered. Trump said he "raced back" from the Middle East to do this, adding: "i would not have missed this moment for anything in the world. nothing. It was a Demonic act of murder. He loved this country. It's my privilege to posthumously award Charles James Kirk our nation's highest civilian honour."

The ceremony took place in the newly-renovated White House Rose Garden.

Charlie was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University on the first stop of his The American Comeback Tour, which invited college students to debate hot-button issues.

Trump was the first to announce later that day that Charlie had died, and the next day said he would be be awarding the father-of-two the Presidential Medal of Freedom as he hailed the Turning Point USA founder "a giant of his generation."

"Today, we're here to honor and remember a fearless warrior for liberty, a beloved leader who galvanized the next generation like nobody have ever seen before, and an American patriot of the deepest conviction, the finest quality and the highest caliber: the late, great, Charlie Kirk," Trump said.

Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, has since taken over as CEO of Turning Point USA, the group Charlie Kirk founded and led.

Erika was seen weeping as she gave a candid speech about her husband's legacy.

She began by thanking Donald Trump, saying: "Your support of our family and the work Charlie devoted his life to will be something I cherish forever. So, thank you."

She went on to address the thousand of young Americans that have joined his Turning Point USA movement.

"Everything that Charlie built, you guys are the legacy holder of that. You are living proof that his mission did not die with him. It lives through you."

She also thanked Trump for giving Charlie "the best birthday gift".

"President Trump you have given my husband, Charlie, the best birthday gift he could ever have on this day that he would have been 32 years old."

She continued: "Free yourself from fear. God began a mighty work in my husband and i intend to see it through. We miss you and we promise we'll do you proud. Happy birthday, my dear."