Sophie Cunningham criticized Angel Reese for her comments about demanding better players if she were to continue playing with the Chicago Sky.The two-time All-Star voiced her frustrations with the franchise earlier in the week, saying she "might have to move in a different direction and do whats best for me" if the team does not improve its outlook."Im not settling for the same s--- we did this year," Reese told the Chicago Tribune. "We have to get good players. We have to get great players. Thats a nonnegotiable for me."CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMThe Sky suspended her for a half due to remarks that were deemed "detrimental to the team." The team suspension came just after she was suspended for a game for receiving her eighth technical foul of the season."That's not great. I get when you're losing, and it's been a frustrating season, everyone is feeling those emotions. I'm sure her teammates feel it, her coaches feel it, the organization, the fans, everyone feels that," Cunningham said on her "Show Me Something" podcast.WNBA STAR ANGEL REESE SHARES CALEB WILLIAMS CONNECTION AFTER NFL PLAYER'S MESSAGE ON PAINTED FINGERNAILS"There's just some things that you can't say. One of my biggest things is I'm a very team-first person. I always put the team before my feelings, and I think that should be a standard. So, you gotta protect your locker room. You can't be saying everything you're feeling because that's not a good look. And then your teammates feel a certain way, that causes division in the locker room."Protect your locker room at all costs. I'm sure she regrets saying that, don't get me wrong, but there are some things that everyone probably knows you just can't say. You can have those with the front office, you can have those conversations behind closed doors, but to say it in media is kind of brutal."Reese walked back her comments after Wednesdays win over the Connecticut Sun and apologized to the team.Reese is averaging 14.7 points and a league-leading 12.6 rebounds, but the Sky are 10-33, the second-worst record in the association.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Devon Mostert, the wife of NFL running back Raheem Mostert, grieved the assassination of conservative political influencer Charlie Kirk on Wednesday.Mostert shared several photos of Kirk and his family on her Instagram Stories and offered a public reaction about her heartbreak.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM"My heart HURTS for them. For America," she captioned one of the posts on her Stories.She was among those in the sports world to react to Kirks death. The wife of the Las Vegas Raiders running back joined Tim Tebow, Mark Teixeira, Brett Favre, Bruce Pearl and others in offering their thoughts and prayers for Kirk and his family.Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was struck by a single bullet around 12:20 p.m. local time on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem on Wednesday. The 31-year-old was surrounded by mostly college students as his event was getting underway.LIVE UPDATES: CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION SPARKS MANHUNT AS SHOOTING SUSPECT REMAINS AT LARGEAuthorities have yet to publicly identify a suspect in the shooting. However, officials offered more details about the person theyre after in a Thursday morning news conference.FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls and Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said they obtained "good video footage" of the shooter while he was on the Utah Valley University Campus.Investigators added that they believe the suspect to be "of college age."The investigation into the assassination was still ongoing.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Country artist John Rich is "rollin" into Tennessees upcoming special election with his own endorsement in whats shaping up to be a crowded GOP primary race.Rich, who makes up half of the iconic duo Big & Rich, is campaigning alongside his longtime friend, state Rep. Jody Barrett, as he runs to replace former Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green in Tennessees 7th Congressional District."I've known Jody, believe this or not, since we were seniors in high school together. We actually graduated the same high school," Rich told Fox News Digital in an interview."We kept in touch, stayed good friends. But in the past four or five years, Jody has been a state rep in Tennessee. And so issues that were happening in Tennessee, Jody and I would join forces, him kind of on the inside of the political world and me standing on the outside with a really big platform and big audience. And we would work together, hand in hand, arm in arm, to make things happen."GOP GOVERNOR NOMINEE PUSHES REDISTRICTING TO OUST STATE'S LONE HOUSE DEMBarrett is one of 10 Republicans running to replace Green in the Oct. 7 primary.The general election is scheduled for Dec. 2. But in the deep-red 7th District, which President Donald Trump won by more than 20 points in 2024, its likely the winner of the GOP primary will come out on top.Barrett, along with state Rep. Gino Bulso, state Rep. Lee Reeves, and former Tennessee General Services Commissioner Matt Van Epps, were the only Republicans invited to debate their candidacy earlier this week by Americans for Prosperity Tennessee, according to Tennessee Lookout.Rich told Fox News Digital that in addition to appearing alongside Barrett at campaign events, hes also promoted the conservative House hopeful to Trump himself."I've actually texted the president a couple of times about Jody. I said, You're going to want this guy in Congress. I mean, this is one of your guys. And so I'm hoping President Trump, maybe he weighs in on this race," Rich said.He added, however, that its possible Trump stays away from endorsing until after the primary is over.Barrett has supported Trump on a broad range of issues, though he notably broke from the presidents COVID-19 vaccine initiative, called Operation Warp Speed, during the Monday night debate."We have millions of Americans now who are vaccine injured, dealing with the results of this vaccine mandate," Barrett said at the time.Nevertheless, Rich said Barrett has connected with Republicans in Tennessee, and he praised him for occasionally challenging establishment GOP aims and decisions in the state.THOM TILLIS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM SENATE AFTER CLASH WITH TRUMP"WhatI love about real conservatives is we will call out people in our own party if we think they're making a mistake, if they're on the wrong path," Rich said. "Whereas on the left, they just fall in line and do whatever they're told every single time. Jody has proven that he will stand up for what his people want."He said at another point in the interview, "Hes legit. I mean, we start talking about what's a conservative look like? It's this guy. And again, when you've known somebody since you were 17, and now you're in your early 50s, and they're the same guy, that's pretty rare."Barrett has also been endorsed by the House Freedom Fund, the political arm of the House Freedom Caucus."Jody Barretts strong conservative record of leadership, not only standing up to Democrats, but also his own party when the RINOs get out of line, is exactly what House Freedom Fund looks for in a candidate," Allison Weisenberger of the House Freedom Fund told Fox News Digital.Barrett himself told Fox News Digital he was "honored" to have Richs endorsement."John Rich is my lifelong friend, a proud Tennessean, a country music legend and one of President Trumps strongest supporters in our state. Having his endorsement means a lot, because he has never been afraid to speak the truth and stand up for conservative values," Barrett said.

On the 24th anniversary of 9/11, Rep. Troy Downing, R-Mont., is sharing his unusual experience that day, which inspired him to join the United States Air Force.Downing was on a moose hunting trip with a friend in the Alaskan wilderness, with the only outside communication being an aviation radio, when he and his friend noticed that no planes were flying over remote Alaska anymore."I'm thinking nuclear holocaust. I have no idea what could make planes stop flying," he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.WEST POINT CADET TURNED ARMY VETERAN HONORS BROTHER LOST IN 9/11 ATTACKS THROUGH METS GAME TRIBUTE"We decide if they don't come pick us up on our scheduled day, which was the 16th, I said we got to hike to Anchorage and, you know, Anchorage was about 350 miles away, so it would have taken quite a while," he added.On Sept. 16, as they were packing up the hunting camp, a Grumman Goose plane lands on the lake, goes to the shore to pick them up, and the pilot informs them by rolling down his window that "They blew up the World Trade Center.""Like, who? And I'm just trying to process this. And keep in mind, we didn't see any of this on TV," he said, explaining how he was quickly coming to terms with the sadness and anger about what happened thousands of miles away in New York City.DOG-WALKING MAN STUMBLES ON SUSPECTED DEBRIS FROM REAGAN NATIONAL PLANE CRASH 7 MONTHS LATERHe said the tragedy ended up as fuel for inspiration to enlist at 34, just one year from the cutoff, like the hundreds of thousands who did after the attacks."It took a while to get out of Alaska because the airspace was closed over Canada so I couldn't fly home. And as soon as they opened the air space, I flew home and the next day, I walked into a recruiter's office," Downing said, adding that he had no prior military experience and never considered joining before, as he was a tech entrepreneur."Hey, I used to teach at New York University. I've got a pilot's license, you know, what can you do with me?" the Republican asked the recruiter. Downing ended up doing two tours in Afghanistan for the USAF and Air National Guard, including in a combat search and rescue squad.NAVY ACCUSED OF NEGLECTING BRAIN INJURIES AMONG PILOTS IN NEW HOUSE PROBE"And the recruiter looks me in the eye and says, Well, how old are you? I said, 34. He goes, Good, 35 is the cutoff, go take the ASVAB," he said.The Republican, who joined Congress earlier this year after serving as Montana State Auditor, said that the unity in the days following 9/11 should be the takeaway decades later and emphasized that "we continue to take care of our veterans.""We were all just Americans, and you saw those flags everywhere, and you saw this common goal of fighting back, of coming together, of having that real, you know, that pride in being American. And I hate that it took such a tragedy to get us to that spot. But I'm hoping that we can find a way to get to that spot again, where we really look at our common balance of being American," Downing said.

FIRST ON FOX: Pastor Jack Hibbs, a close friend of Charlie Kirk, told Fox News Digital he was in disbelief when he heard the conservative firebrand had been assassinated after having spoken to him just hours earlier."My initial thoughts, of course, like everyone else, is what is going on in our country?" Hibbs said. "But then quickly, I think my second thought, which is the prevailing thought, is Charlie was obviously a young man of not only profound intellect, he had a great faith in Jesus."Kirk, 31, was shot and killed Wednesday at the kickoff of his "American Comeback Tour" at Utah Valley University. He leaves behind his wife, Erika, and two young children, ages 1 and 3.Hibbs, pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Southern California, said Kirk had "a love for the Bible" and the pair "spent the last several years going through the Scriptures together."Kirk's assassination made him an "American martyr" that will encourage an entire generation of "untold Charlies who will follow in his footsteps," he said.CHARLIE KIRK PAINTED AS 'CONTROVERSIAL,' 'PROVOCATIVE' IN MEDIAS ASSASSINATION COVERAGEHibbs and Kirk have collaborated over the last five years on their podcast shows and culture events. Kirk was invited several times over the years to speak at Hibbs' church, born out of the Jesus People movement, on topics ranging from gender identity, abortion and school choice to biblical prophecy.Just hours before Kirk kicked off his American Comeback Tour, where he planned to travel across the U.S. to college campuses and invite liberal students to debate and ask him questions publicly, Hibbs reached out asking if he could get his brother entry into the Utah event."Charlie was so kind and generous to let this stranger have a front row seat," Hibbs said. "And I know that that was Charlie loving on me by loving on my brother. And that's just who he was, extremely, extremely generous.""My brother sent me pictures of him and Charlie, standing together before the event started and everything looked great," Hibbs said. "And then my brother called me immediately during the shooting, I could hear people screaming and running, and my brother was about 25 to 35 feet away from Charlie."Hibbs urged Kirk's supporters to remember his killing was "not the end of Charlie," because he had immense faith.VIGILS HELD ACROSS US AFTER ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK: 'WE MUST HEAL'"This just galvanized an entire generation of not only those who follow Charlie, but those who criticized him. They watched a young man lay down his life for his cause," Hibbs said. "And I do believe that the result of today is going to backfire on anyone who had nefarious plots to silence Charlie."One of the last appearances of Kirk at Hibbs' church was in March, an event titled, "A Christian or Pagan Nation.""What a lot of people don't realize is they see the Charlie Kirk, so to speak, in his armor, right on stage or on the university campus, but Charlie was a very tender-hearted young man, very, very empathetic," Hibbs said.CHARLIE KIRK KILLED WHILE LAUNCHING TURNING POINT USA CAMPUS TOURKirk rose to prominence during the 2016 election cycle, emerging as one of the most influential voices in the MAGA movement and cultivating a close relationship with the Trump family. As the founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), he built a nationwide platform that amplified the voices of young conservatives and brought them into the political arena.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThrough large-scale TPUSA events, Kirk positioned himself as a bridge between lawmakers and grassroots youth activists, creating direct connections between the political establishment and a new generation of conservative leaders. His efforts extended to specialized gatherings such as the Black Leadership Summit, where young participants were even invited to the White House during President Donald Trump's first term, offering them a rare opportunity to engage face-to-face with the president.

Archaeologists in Norways capital have unearthed thousands of leather artifacts that offer a rare glimpse into Oslo's past and the fashion of its medieval inhabitants.The findings were recently announced by the Norwegian Maritime Museum. Experts from the museum as well as others from the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research conducted excavations in the port district of Bjrvika over last winter and spring.Bjrvika was originally underwater during medieval times, but landfill across the centuries gradually turned it into dry land.SURPRISED ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTH ANCIENT GRAVES CAUGHT BETWEEN PAGAN, CHRISTIAN RITUALS IN POLANDResearchers expected some historic finds ahead of their work but they didn't know they'd find thousands of leather artifacts in such a relatively small area.Archaeologist Marja-Liisa P. Grue with the maritime museum told Fox News Digital the excavators found 2,900 objects, including 2,700 pieces of leather."This is in addition to around 3,000 bones, which are food waste," she said."From some of the layers we investigated, we were just continuously picking bone and leather pieces."RARE CHRISTIAN CROSS AMONG SPECTACULAR 1,000-YEAR-OLD VIKING TREASURES FOUND BY METAL DETECTORISTSHistoric leather is a rare gem, as the material is quick to corrode. The artifacts survived the centuries thanks to the clay soil beneath Oslo's city center, the experts said."After the leather objects ended up at the sea bottom, they were pretty quickly covered and have ended up lying in moist and oxygen-deprived masses for hundreds of years," Grue noted."These conditions are good for the preservation of organic material like leather, limiting decay The result is really well-preserved leather objects, some with clear traces of decorations, extensive repairs and so on."The finds spanned a vast period of time.The top layers held leather goods from the 1900s, but instead of uncovering traces from the 1800s, 1700s and 1600s like in nearby digs, archaeologists jumped straight from the late 19th century to the Middle Ages.VIKING-ERA BURIAL SITE WITH ELITE FAMILY TREASURES AND GIFTS DISCOVERED, PLUS AN 'UNUSUAL CASKET'"At the current excavated area, we can follow the layers down to the late 19th century before we start finding [artifacts] typologically dated to the 13th to 15th century," Grue added."Now the investigation will start [to determine] why we appear to be missing around 400 years of history in an area we know [was] used for travel up the nearby river at least to the first part of the 19th century."Grue noted that Oslo's conditions have made it possible to preserve significant amounts of leather."It is not very rare to find well-preserved leather, because of good preservation conditions for organic material, especially close by the citys old harbor area," she said.UNEARTHED ANCIENT ROMAN SHOES DRAW 'IMPRESSED GASPS' AFTER BEING BURIED FOR 2,000 YEARS"Still, the amount of leather objects compared to the size of the field is a lot more than we expected to find."In contrast, nearby fields tend to yield mostly ceramics and in much smaller numbers."The objects seem to have been transported to the place we found them by the nearby Alnaelva River," Grue said. "[They were] mostly made from materials that float well, like leather, bone and wood."The discoveries, Grue added, appear to have belonged to upper-class medieval Osloans. The items included decorated shoes, purses, sword sheaths and blades.They also found bags, which were necessary, since medieval clothes did not have pockets.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER"This can help shed light on the fashion in the city at the time," she said. "Yet, more interesting is the everyday material that sheds light on everyday people and their habits.""The shoe material shows a society where nothing appears to have been thrown away before it was used," he said. Items were "repaired, repaired again and then [the parts] reused that could still be used."For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyleOf all the shoes found, 68 belonged to children the tiny shoes and boots offering a rare glimpse into medieval childhood."The cutest stories are the small kids shoes, down to the size of a one-year-old, where we see the tiny shoes made in the same styles as the grownups, and then the shoes are refitted for use by new children as long as possible," said Grue.The leather finds follow other clothing-related discoveries in Scandinavia, including the grave of a Viking in Sweden.When inspecting the grave, archaeologists found that there were "remnants of textile, likely from a garment."

President Donald Trump announced earlier this month that he will attend the New York Yankees game against the Detroit Tigers on the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.Trump has attended numerous sporting events over the years but has not attended a baseball game during his second term.In 2019, Trump, then in his first term as president, attended Game 5 of the World Series between the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros in the nation's capital. He also attended the World Series between the Astros and Atlanta Braves in 2021, roughly a year after losing the 2020 election to former President Joe Biden.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMTrump said in 2020 that he was set to throw out the first pitch at a Yankees game, but it never happened due to a "strong focus" on the pandemic.The Yankees urged fans for Thursday's game to "budget extra time for entry due to enhanced security measures at all Yankee Stadium entrances." Gates usually open an hour and a half before first pitch, but on Thursday, gates will open at 4 p.m. ET for the 7:05 p.m. game.Fans were also encouraged to take public transportation due to street closures and added limitations on what would be allowed inside the stadium.SPORTS WORLD REACTS TO CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING DEATH: 'PRAYERS FOR HIS FAMILY'Security may be boosted even further following the assassination of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday in Utah. The Yankees honored Kirk with a moment of silence hours after.Trump will attend the game after speaking at the Pentagon for a 9/11 ceremony. Vice President JD Vance was in Lower Manhattan earlier in the day.There will be pregame ceremonies to honor the victims and heroes of the attacks. It is not yet known how, or if, Trump will participate.The Yankees have lost each of the first two games in this series against Detroit as they fight for an AL East title, while the Tigers are running away with the AL Central.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The Carolina Panthers on Thursday fired an employee who made insensitive social media posts following the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.Charlie Rock, a member of the teams communications department, was the staffer fired, a source briefed on the Panthers decision confirmed to Fox News Digital.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMSocial media posts linked to Rock appeared to show him questioning why people were sad that Kirk had been shot and killed. The song "Protect Ya Neck" from the Wu-Tang Clan was also shared."The views expressed by our employees are their own and do not represent those of the Carolina Panthers," the team said in a statement posted to social media. "We do not condone violence of any kind. We are taking this matter very seriously and have accordingly addressed it with the individual."Rock was far from the first person to lose their job for mocking the assassination of Kirk.MSNBC fired analyst Matthew Dowd for his "unacceptable" comments about Kirk in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. The network previously denounced the comments Dowd made on the air.LIVE UPDATES: CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION SPARKS MANHUNT AS SHOOTING SUSPECT REMAINS AT LARGE"During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable," MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler said in a statement. "We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise."Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was struck by a single bullet around 12:20 p.m. local time on the campus ofUtah Valley Universityin Orem on Wednesday. The 31-year-old was surrounded by mostly college students as his event was getting underway.Authorities have yet to publicly identify a suspect in the shooting. However, officials offered more details about the person theyre after in a Thursday morning news conference.FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls and Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said they had obtained "good video footage" of the shooter while he was on the Utah Valley University Campus.Investigators added that they believe the suspect to be "of college age."The investigation into the assassination of Kirk was still ongoing.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Before Charlie Kirk was gunned down on a Utah college campus, political violence was already increasing domestically, from President Donald Trump's attempted assassination to the Pennsylvania governors mansion being attacked by an arsonist during Passover Seder.Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck by a yet-unknown assassin as he addressed a massive crowd at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.Kirk's death sparked international outrage and mourning from figures including Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.CHARLIE KIRK PAINTED AS 'CONTROVERSIAL,' 'PROVOCATIVE' IN MEDIAS ASSASSINATION COVERAGE"Charlie Kirk was murdered for speaking truth and defending freedom," said Netanyahu, who called Kirk a "lion-hearted friend of Israel" who had been planning a trip to the Holy Land before he was assassinated.Trump has faced two assassination attempts in recent years.Ryan Routh, the suspect in the second alleged attempt, is currently in court in Fort Pierce, Fla., after he allegedly staked out a nearby golf course on which Trump was playing.In 2024, Trump was shot in the ear by Thomas M. Crooks while he addressed a rally in Butler County, Pa.Crooks, who had traveled from a Pittsburgh suburb, was shot dead by law enforcement, and Trump said he would have been killed if he hadnt turned his head at the last second to describe a graphic on illegal immigration statistics.CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING LEADS TO OUTPOURING FROM UTAH OFFICIALS, 2025 NOMS ON BOTH SIDESPennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a likely 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, was allegedly targeted in another attack earlier this year.A man later identified as Cody Balmer of Dauphin County allegedly hopped a security fence, eluding Shapiros detail.Shapiro, Pennsylvania first lady Lori Shapiro, their four kids and another family were in the governors mansion after just celebrating Passover hours before with members of Harrisburgs Jewish community.While no one was injured in the blaze, the historic home was severely damaged."I refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempts to put on me by attacking us as they did here last night. I refuse to let anyone who had evil intentions like that stop me from doing the work that I love."Balmers voter registration was "unaffiliated," according to The Associated Press, citing Pennsylvania State Police officials who also described the suspects use of Molotov cocktails and prior criminal charges.Charged with terrorism, attempted murder and other offenses, Balmer allegedly walked an hour from nearby Penbrook to the governors mansion, at the far end of Front Street from the State Capitol.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPAfter Kirk was shot, Shapiro condemned the attack, saying that Americans "must speak with moral clarity.""The attack on Charlie Kirk is horrifying and this growing type of unconscionable violence cannot be allowed in our society," Shapiro said.While running for governor in neighboring New York in 2022, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin was attacked onstage at a campaign event in Perinton, outside Syracuse.Zeldin, joined by running mate Alison Esposito, was addressing rallygoers when a man identified as David Jakubonis walked on stage sporting a blunt object and shouted to the Republican: "Youre done."Zeldin, a veteran of the Iraq War, quickly grabbed the mans wrist and a short scuffle ensued, leaving him with what was described as a "scrape."After Jakubonis was subdued, Zeldin finished his speech.In 2022, Louisville Democratic Mayor Craig Greenberg and several campaign staffers were attacked by a gun-wielding assailant later allegedly identified as a social justice activist who was running for Metro Council in Kentuckys largest city.Quintez Brown was later sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to several charges, according to the Justice Department.Several shots were fired in the incident, and Greenbergs clothing was grazed by a bullet, but there were no further injuries.Brown allegedly wanted to kill Greenberg to prevent him from winning the election, according to The Associated Press.On June 8, 2022, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was allegedly targeted by a California man upset with the ruling overturning Roe v. Wade via the Dobbs decision, as well as recent mass shooting incidents in the U.S.Nicholas Roske planned to break into Kavanaughs Chevy Chase, Maryland, home and kill him before killing himself, according to reports.When Roske arrived in the tony Washington suburb, he was noticed by U.S. Marshals stationed at the jurists home and left the scene before being arrested.

President Donald Trump said Thursday he will award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously, after the conservative personality was shot and killed on a university campus on Wednesday."I will soon be awarding Charlie Kirk posthumously, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The day of the ceremony will be announced, and I can only guarantee you one thing. That we will have a very big crowd. Very, very big."Speaking at a Pentagon ceremony, Trump described Kirk as "a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people." He added that the ceremony date would be announced soon, but promised "a very big crowd. Very, very big.""I have no doubt that Charlie's voice and the courage he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people, will live on," Trump said.CHARLIE KIRK PAINTED AS 'CONTROVERSIAL,' 'PROVOCATIVE' IN MEDIAS ASSASSINATION COVERAGEKirk, 31, co-founded the conservative student group Turning Point USA in 2012 and built it into one of the most influential youth organizations on the political right. Known for his fiery campus appearances and a massive social media presence, Kirk was a staunch supporter of Trump and a frequent critic of liberal institutions.Kirk was speaking at a"Prove Me Wrong" debate at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah, an event where he invited students to challenge his political and cultural views.A shot rang out around noon local time on Wednesday, and Kirk fell from his chair.The shooter remains at large, though the weapon has been recovered. Event organizers estimate some 3,000 people had been in attendance at the school.The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nations highest civilian honor. It is awarded to individuals who have made "especially meritorious" contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, or cultural and public endeavors.Kirk would join a list of recipients from presidents, lawmakers and foreign leaders to athletes, entertainers and human rights figures.'DARK MOMENT FOR AMERICA': TRUMP DECLARES CHARLIE KIRK'S VOICE 'BIGGER AND GRANDER' AFTER ASSASSINATIONSecretary of War Pete Hegseth also commemorated Kirk during the wreath laying ceremony to mark the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks."The young soldiers who take the oath give me hope. The young cops who wear the badge give me hope. The young firefighters answered the call. Give me hope. The young agents who patrol our border give me hope. The life example and even death of Christ follower, American patriot Charlie Kirk give me hope," he said."Sheer courage, no matter the arena. Charlie, we love you know that you have heard the Lord's words. Well done, good and faithful servant. Full heart, clear eyes."On Wednesday after the shooting, Trump called it a "dark day for America.""It's a long past time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree day after day, year after year," he said."For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world's worst mass murderers and criminals."In death, Trump said, "Charlie's voice has become bigger and grander than ever before."