President Donald Trump lauded Charlie Kirk as a 'great American hero' and a 'martyr for freedom' during a gathering Sunday evening of leading conservatives honoring the slain political activist—a figure whose mission, they vowed, must continue.
Tens of thousands of mourners attended the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, whom President Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory. The gathering included Vice President JD Vance, senior administration officials, and a new generation of conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand.
“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.”
Speakers at the service underscored Kirk’s deep faith and his conviction that young conservatives must marry, raise families, and pass on their values to sustain the movement he built. They repeatedly urged conservative activists—sometimes in forceful tones—that the truest way to honor Kirk’s legacy was to double down on his mission to push 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.”
The assassination of Charlie Kirk during a Sept. 10 appearance at a Utah college campus has ignited a heated national debate over violence, civility, and free speech amid an era of sharp political polarization.
The shooting has fueled concern among some Americans that Trump may be seeking to leverage outrage over the killing to justify silencing his critics and political opponents.
People listen as Erika Kirk speaks at a memorial for her late husband conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Charlie Kirk’s wife forgives suspect
As the memorial began, those close to Kirk prayed while the floors of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals’ home reverberated with the bass of Christian rock bands, giving the service the atmosphere of a megachurch before shifting into the energy of a political rally.
Longtime worship leader Chris Tomlin opened the memorial service, later joined by other prominent figures in contemporary Christian music, including Brandon Lake and Phil Wickham. Toward the close of the event, as President Trump took the stage, Lee Greenwood performed a live rendition of his iconic campaign walk-on song, "God Bless the USA."
Crowds began forming before dawn to claim spots inside State Farm Stadium, west of Phoenix, home to Kirk’s Turning Point organization. Security was heightened, and speakers delivered their tributes from behind bulletproof glass.
The 63,400-seat stadium swiftly filled with attendees clad in red, white, and blue, just as organizers had encouraged.
The atmosphere inside the stadium shifted over the course of a service that lasted more than five hours. Mourners remained patient and courteous, even after waiting hours to gain entry and then enduring long lines at the stadium concessions.
In her address, Kirk’s widow, Erika, spoke of finding solace amid her grief, taking comfort in the knowledge that her husband left this world without regrets. She also expressed forgiveness toward the man charged with his killing.
“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.”
People hold up signs during a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Closing the service, Trump remarked that Charlie Kirk "did not hate his opponents" and "wanted the best for them," a quality he admitted he personally found difficult to comprehend.
“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 Kirk have become a Trump administration target
Trump has attributed Kirk’s death to the "radical left," warning that he may target liberal organizations, donors, and others he believes are maligning or celebrating the killing.
Dozens of individuals—from journalists and teachers to late-night host Jimmy Kimmel—have faced suspensions or lost their jobs after prominent conservative activists and administration officials targeted comments about Kirk they deemed offensive or celebratory. The ensuing backlash has sparked a broader debate over First Amendment rights.
At the memorial, some speakers portrayed Kirk as fighting against evil, alluding to a nebulous 'they' as the enemy, while others were far more direct in their remarks.
“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 as a provocateur, occasionally making statements that critics labeled racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant, or transphobic. Such remarks have sparked backlash from conservatives, who argue that these criticisms cherry-pick isolated incidents to tarnish the legacy of a figure they regard as an inspirational conservative leader.
Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old man from Utah, has been charged with the murder of Charlie Kirk and faces the death penalty if convicted on the most serious counts. Authorities have yet to establish a clear motive, but prosecutors revealed that Robinson wrote in a text to his partner after the shooting that he 'had enough' of Kirk’s hatred.
People arrive early for a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Kirk’s legacy of conservative political influence
Turning Point, the organization Kirk founded to mobilize young Christian conservatives, grew under his leadership into a multimillion-dollar operation with far-reaching influence.
The massive turnout reflected the considerable influence Kirk wielded in conservative America and his remarkable ability to mobilize young people.
The service drew a veritable who’s who of the Republican Party, with numerous current and former lawmakers in attendance. Tech billionaire and former Trump adviser Elon Musk was seen seated alongside the former president for part of the event.
Kirk was a MAGA celebrity with a devoted following, drawing supporters and critics alike as he traveled the country for events like the one at Utah Valley University, where he was tragically shot.
One speaker after another—including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio—marveled at Kirk’s fearless ability to enter what many conservatives viewed as the lion’s den: college campuses, to advocate for conservative principles.
“Why don’t you start somewhere easier,” Rubio recalled thinking when he first heard about Kirk years ago. “Like, for example, communist Cuba?”
