Charlie Kirk memorial service: Donald Trump calls conservative activist ‘martyr for America’s freedom’ | Video
Charlie Kirk's memorial service, attended by tens of thousands of mourners, including US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, highlighted his influence on Trump's 2024 campaign.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday praised slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a “great American hero” and “martyr” for freedom at a memorial service held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Other prominent conservatives joined the tribute to honour the slain political activist whose work, they said, must be carried forward.
Here's what Trump said
“He’s a martyr now for America’s freedom,” Trump said in his tribute. “I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie. And neither now will history.”
The memorial service for Charlie Kirk, whom President Trump credited as a key figure in his 2024 election win, drew tens of thousands of mourners. Among those in attendance were Vice President JD Vance, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, top administration officials, and young conservatives influenced by the 31-year-old activist.
Speakers at the memorial service highlighted Kirk's deep religious faith and his conviction that young conservatives should marry, raise families, and instil their values in the next generation to strengthen their movement. They urged conservative activists—often in emphatic terms—to honour Kirk’s legacy by continuing his push to shift American politics further to the right.
“For Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America and defending the truth than it is to die on our knees,” Vance said. “My friends, for Charlie, we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America. And he is a martyr for the Christian faith,” he added.
The assassination of Charlie Kirk during a September 10 appearance at a Utah college campus has set off a fierce debate about violence, decency and free speech in an era of deep political division.
The shooting has stirred fear among some Americans that Trump is trying to harness outrage over the killing as justification to suppress the voices of his critics and political opponents.
Charlie Kirk's wife forgives suspect
As the memorial began, those close to Kirk prayed, and the floors at the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals shook from the bass of Christian rock bands. The service opened with the feel of a megachurch service before veering into something more akin to a political rally.
Crowds began lining up before dawn to secure a spot inside State Farm Stadium west of Phoenix, where Kirk’s Turning Point organisation is based. Security was tight, and speakers delivered their tributes from behind bulletproof glass.
The 63,400-seat stadium quickly filled with people dressed in red, white and blue, as organisers suggested.
The mood in the stadium ebbed and flowed throughout a service that stretched more than five hours. Mourners were patient and cordial, even after waiting hours to enter and then an hour or more for food in stadium concession lines.
Kirk's widow, Erika, in her own address, said in the midst of her grief, she was finding comfort that her husband left this world without regrets. She said she forgives the man who is charged with killing him.
“My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,” said Erika Kirk, who is taking over as Turning Point's leader. She added, “I forgive him.”
Donald Trump's tribute to Charlie Kirk
President Trump, who closed the service, praised Charlie Kirk as a great “American hero” and “martyr” for freedom. He said that Charlie Kirk “did not hate his opponents” and “wanted the best for them," an attribute he found hard to understand.
"That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them," Trump said. "I’m sorry, I am sorry, Erika."
Comments about Charlie Kirk become political flashpoint
Trump has blamed the “radical left” for Kirk’s death and threatened to go after liberal organisations, donors and others he believes are maligning or celebrating the killing.
Dozens of people, from journalists to teachers to late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, have faced suspensions or lost their jobs after prominent conservative activists and administration officials targeted remarks about Kirk they deemed offensive. The retaliation has, in turn, ignited a debate over First Amendment protections.
Some speakers at the memorial said Kirk was battling evil and referred to a vague “they” as the enemy. Others were more direct. “You have no idea the dragon you have awakened, you have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilization, to save the West, to save this republic," said White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.
Kirk was known for provocative statements, which critics labelled as racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant, or transphobic. While these remarks sparked backlash, many conservatives defended him, arguing that such criticism unfairly focused on isolated incidents and undermined the legacy of an inspirational conservative voice.
Meanwhile, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson from Utah has been charged with Kirk’s murder and could face the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges. While authorities have yet to establish a definitive motive, prosecutors revealed that Robinson sent a text message to his partner after the shooting, saying he had “had enough” of Kirk’s hatred.
Kirk's legacy and conservative political influence
Turning Point USA, the organisation Kirk founded to energise young Christian conservatives, grew into a multimillion-dollar powerhouse under his leadership.
The massive turnout at his memorial reflected his influence on conservative America, particularly through his talent for mobilising young supporters.
The service featured a prominent lineup of Republican figures, including many current and former lawmakers. Notably, tech billionaire Elon Musk—once a top adviser to Trump—was seen sitting alongside the president during part of the ceremony.
Kirk was a MAGA celebrity with a loyal following that turned out to support or argue with him as he travelled the country for events like the one at Utah Valley University, where he was shot. Speaker after speaker, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressed awe at Kirk's ability to go into what many conservatives saw as the lion's den to make the conservative case: college campuses, AP reported.
“Why don’t you start somewhere easier,” Rubio recalled thinking when he first heard about Kirk years ago. “Like, for example, communist Cuba?"
(With inputs from agencies)