United States President Donald Trump, on Sunday hailed conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a “great American hero” and “martyr” during a memorial service that drew nearly 100,000 mourners to Arizona’s State Farm Stadium.
The packed event in Phoenix took on the tone of both a political rally and a megachurch gathering, with Christian bands leading worship before speeches from Trump, Vice-President JD Vance, top administration officials, and longtime allies of Kirk.
Many attendees, dressed in red, white and blue and MAGA-branded gear, had queued overnight to secure a place inside.
Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead on 10 September while debating students at a Utah university.
His death has since been framed by supporters as both a tragedy and a rallying cry for the conservative movement.
“He was assassinated because he lived bravely, he lived boldly and he argued brilliantly,” Trump told the crowd. “He’s a martyr now for America’s freedom. 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 president, who later embraced Kirk’s widow on stage, also injected political fire into his remarks. He railed against the “radical left,” mocked his predecessor Joe Biden, and even joked about one point of disagreement with the late activist: “He did not hate his opponents, he wanted the best for them. That’s where I disagree with Charlie. I hate my opponents and I don’t want what’s best for them.”
Before Trump spoke, Erika Kirk delivered a tearful tribute to her husband. She described her grief and her decision to forgive the man accused of killing him, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
“I saw the wound that ended his life,” she said. “I felt everything he would expect to feel. I felt shock. I felt horror, and a level of heartache that I didn’t even know existed. These past 10 days after Charlie’s assassination, we didn’t see violence. We didn’t see rioting. We didn’t see revolution. Instead, we saw what my husband always prayed he would see in this country, we saw revival.”
“My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,” she added. “I forgive him because it is what Christ did. The answer to hate is not hate.”
Erika was later named the new CEO of Turning Point USA, vowing to carry forward her husband’s mission.
Prominent conservatives echoed that call. “The day that Charlie died, angels wept, but those tears have been turned into fire in our hearts,” said White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. “Our enemies cannot comprehend our strength.”
JD Vance credited Kirk’s activism with shaping the conservative youth vote. “Charlie didn’t just help, he made the winning difference, I promise you that,” he said. “We wouldn’t be here without him. We’ve got it from here.”
Other administration figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, also paid tribute.
At one point, Elon Musk, who earlier this year had a highly publicized clash with Trump, was seen sitting alongside the president. The two shook hands, and Musk later posted a picture with the caption: “For Charlie.”
Kirk, who launched Turning Point USA at 18, gained national prominence for his combative campus debates and large social media following, more than 5 million on X and 7 million on TikTok.
His unapologetically right-wing stances on gun rights, abortion, transgender issues and Covid-19 made him a polarizing figure, admired by conservatives but reviled by liberals.
For those who packed the stadium in Arizona, however, the message was clear: Kirk’s death had only strengthened their cause.
“The day that Charlie died, angels wept,” Miller had declared. But by the service’s end, chants of “U-S-A” reverberated across the arena, underscoring the sense of revival his widow had spoken of.
