Charlie Kirk memorial service: Donald Trump heads to Arizona
More than 200,000 people attended the memorial service for Charlie Kirk in Arizona, with additional crowds outside and in nearby arenas. Speakers include Trump, Vance, Kirk’s widow Erika, and several senior officials and commentators.
Mourners, including President Donald Trump, gathered on Sunday to pay tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, at a memorial service held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA and a close ally of the Trump administration, was fatally shot earlier this month while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. His assassination shocked the nation, prompting an outpouring of grief and condemnation from political leaders.
Trump and Vance to lead tributes
President Trump praised Kirk as a “great man” before boarding Air Force One to attend the service. “We can celebrate the life of a great man today, really a great man,” Trump said. “We want to look at it as a time of healing … that something like this could have happened is not even believable.”
Vice President JD Vance shared an emotional tribute on X, recalling the moment he helped carry Kirk’s casket onto Air Force Two for transportation back to Arizona. “Last week, we brought my dear friend Charlie Kirk home one last time. Today, we return to Arizona to remember Charlie and honor his sacrifice,” Vance wrote. He described Kirk as a “visionary” and “luminary” who built “a whole social network for an entire generation of young people.”
Record-breaking turnout
More than 200,000 mourners attended the service, with the 63,400-seat State Farm Stadium packed to capacity. Another 100,000 were accommodated in nearby arenas or gathered outside, enduring the Arizona heat. Many attendees had arrived hours in advance, some as early as 4 a.m., and others had to park miles away. Participants were encouraged to wear red, white, or blue in honor of Kirk.
Speakers lineup
The memorial featured speeches from prominent figures, including:
President Donald Trump
Vice President JD Vance
Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk and new head of Turning Point USA
Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff
Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services
Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence
Tucker Carlson, commentator and former Fox News host
Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff
Sergio Gor, U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asia