President Trump and several members of his cabinet spoke at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service Sunday in Arizona, honoring the conservative activist more than a week after he was killed.
More than 60,000 people packed the Arizona Cardinals’ NFL stadium outside Phoenix for the service, some of whom lined up in the early morning hours for tickets.
“Charlie was filled with a patriotic spirit from his youth, and he was an all American in everything he did,” Trump said. He added Kirk “was violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice for God, country for reason, and for common sense.”
The venue in Glendale was tightly secured. An armed man posing as law enforcement was arrested outside the stadium on Friday night, and observers inside compared the security level to a Super Bowl.
Kirk, 31, was shot dead Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old man from southern Utah, has been charged with his murder.
At Sunday’s event, Kirk was remembered as a passionate conservative with a unique talent for driving young people to the Republican Party.
“President Trump’s victory, winning the popular vote and every swing state, was powered by young people, most brand new to politics,” White House Chief of
Staff Susie Wiles said. “Charlie didn’t just help. He made the winning difference, I promise you that.”
Trump and other conservative leaders have blamed Kirk’s death on the “radical left.” Several people, most prominently late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, have lost their jobs for comments made in the wake of his shooting.
But the majority of speakers at Sunday’s event focused on Kirk’s life, his Christian faith and his widow, Erika, who was tapped to lead his Phoenix-based organization, Turning Point USA, and gave an emotional speech Sunday.
“My husband, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,” Kirk said. “On the cross, our savior said: ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.’ That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it is what Charlie would do.”
Kirk’s critics have called him a bigot, referencing his past comments about immigrants, LGBTQ people and others. Prior to his arrest, Robinson said there was “too much hate” in Kirk and told his roommate he had “enough of Kirk’s hate” and decided to kill him, according to investigators.
Robinson drew scant mention at Sunday’s memorial service, which also served somewhat as a uniting event for conservatives who have sparred during the first several months of Trump’s second term. Tucker Carlson spoke, while Elon Musk entered to cheers from the crowd.
“The evil murderer who took Charlie from us expected us to have a funeral today, and instead, my friends, we have had a revival and celebration of Charlie Kirk and his Lord, Jesus Christ,” Vice President JD Vance said. “They tried to silence my — our — friend, Charlie Kirk, today, we speak for Charlie louder than ever.”
Trump advisor and White House aide Stephen Miller delivered the most aggressive remarks, which mirrored his statements on Kirk’s podcast last Monday. Miller vowed to “uproot and dismantle these terrorist networks” that he blamed for Kirk’s murder, even though police have uncovered no evidence that anyone other than Robinson was behind the shooting.
“You thought you could kill Charlie Kirk? You have made him immortal,” Miller said. You have no idea the dragon you have awakened.”
With News Wire Services