“Charlie is bigger today than he was. Think about it, just two weeks ago — he’s bigger today than he was two weeks ago. Now that may not help his friends and loved ones, of which there are so many, and may not help Erika and those beautiful children who have to suffer so horribly through this moment. But they know it’s true,” the president said.

“He’s bigger now than ever before, and he’s eternal. He’s eternal. And I just want to say, we love him and he’s looking down at us right now and he’s saying, ‘wow, that’s a great crowd,’” he added. “And it’s a great crowd of patriots. But that’s why I will soon award Charlie the nation’s highest civilian honor: the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”