GLENDALE, Ariz.—Tens of thousands gathered to remember slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Sunday memorial in Arizona that was both religious service and conservative political rally.
President Trump, cabinet officials and right-wing pundits were among the speakers set to eulogize Kirk at the service, which comes nearly two weeks after the conservative activist was shot to death. His death ratcheted up political tensions across the country and heightened fears that American politics had entered a dangerous new era.
The crowd erupted after Trump’s arrival Sunday, chanting “U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A.” as he gave the crowd a triumphant fist pump from a private box. Senior figures in the Trump administration strode into the stadium while worship music played, including national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Billionaire Elon Musk waved to the crowd and shook hands with former lawmaker Matt Gaetz as the crowd settled for a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace.”
The event alternated between political and religious messages delivered by conservative leaders and friends of Kirk. Mourners sang along to Christian contemporary music and raised their hands in prayer. Volunteers asked new voters to register as Republicans, and top executives of Kirk’s organization Turning Point USA, recalled how Kirk built one of the most important conservative political organizations.
“He always said to me ‘if we could just figure out how to bring the Holy Spirit into a Trump rally’—I think you’ve done it,” Tyler Bowyer , the COO of Turning Point USA’s political arm, said to the crowd.
Kirk was lionized as a Christian martyr by several speakers including his friend and conservative commentator Benny Johnson, who called Kirk’s life a miracle and added: “You cut down a martyr, his power grows.” Kirk’s friend and far-right podcaster Jack Posobiec said Kirk sacrificed his life to save Western civilization and called on attendees to fight in the “spiritual warfare before us.”
Trump is expected to speak at the event, as are Vice President JD Vance , Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Hegseth. Former Fox News host turned podcaster Tucker Carlson , as well as White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller , are slated to speak.
Attendees began lining up for the service at State Farm Stadium, just outside of Phoenix, at least six hours before the memorial, with many wearing red, white and blue clothes as well as cowboy boots and Make America Great Again caps.
Shannon Brodowicz, 31, a stay-at home mom from Phoenix and her husband brought their four month old son dressed in an American flag onesie. “We wanted to teach him early on that we show up for people and things that are important,” Brodowicz said. Erika Kirk , who will take her late husband’s place as head of Turning Point USA, is also expected to address the crowds. She has vowed to continue his work of mobilizing young conservatives through tours, podcasts and public events.
“The movement my husband built won’t die,” she said from Charlie Kirk’s podcast studio in the wake of his death. “The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.”
Attendees at the event, which started at 11 a.m. local time, were asked to wear their “Sunday Best—Red, White, or Blue,” and to donate to Turning Point USA in lieu of flowers.
Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson , 22 years old, faces charges including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice and witness tampering. Authorities have accused him of fatally shooting Kirk on Sept. 10 from the rooftop of a building on the campus of Utah Valley University, in Orem. Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty.
Police in Glendale, Ariz., where the stadium is located, said protests are expected at the memorial.
“People have a First Amendment right to their opinion and freedom of speech, and we’re here to protect everyone,” Officer Moroni Mendez of the Glendale Police Department said.
The memorial had Super Bowl-level security reserved for significant events of national importance. On Friday, a man was arrested at State Farm Stadium after telling Secret Service agents he was armed and falsely claiming to be a law-enforcement officer, police said. Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet said in a post on X that he believed the man was doing advanced security for a guest planning to attend Sunday’s memorial.
As the program kicked off, the reality of why they were there settled over the crowd. The Christian band that had been performing asked those at the service to focus and put their arms in the air, much of the stadium sang along.
Then attendees stood with signs that said “Turning Point,” “NEVER SURRENDER REMEMBER CHARLIE KIRK” and “Here I am. Lord, send Me—Isaiah 6:8” with a drawing of Kirk. Instrumental music played and attendees wiped away tears.
Kirk, 31 years old, was a standard-bearer of the MAGA movement and has been credited by Trump with building his support among young people and helping ensure his return to office. Some conservatives demanded companies fire employees who shared reactions to the shooting that the right found unsympathetic.
The debate around free speech from both sides intensified last week, after Disney indefinitely pulled Jimmy Kimmel’s show off its ABC network over remarks he made about the Kirk shooting. On his show Monday, Kimmel said, “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.” Kimmel also said, “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.” A spokesman for Kimmel said Wednesday the host had no comment.
