Memorial service of Charlie Kirk

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Memorial service of Charlie Kirk
Erika Kirk and Donald Trump wave to the crowd at State Farm Stadium.
DateSeptember 21, 2025 (2025-09-21)
Time11:00 a.m. (MST)
VenueState Farm Stadium and Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Organized byTurning Point USA
Turning Point Action
Participants≥ 90,000 people

On September 21, 2025, the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk was held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.[1] The service was attended by over 90,000 people.[2][3][4] Overflow of the stadium led to memorial planners sending attendees to Desert Diamond Arena one block north, which has a capacity of 20,000.[5]

Background

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Main article: Assassination of Charlie Kirk

On September 10, 2025, Kirk was assassinated while addressing an audience on the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah. The outdoor event was the first stop of the season for the American Comeback Tour, a speaking and debate series planned by Turning Point USA, a conservative organization he co-founded. On September 11, Kirk's casket, accompanied by United States vice president JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, and Kirk's widow Erika Kirk,[6] was transported on Air Force Two from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Phoenix, Arizona.[7]

Planning

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On September 13, Turning Point USA announced plans for Kirk's memorial service.[8] The service took place on September 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, and was attended by Erika, President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Elon Musk, among others.[1] Turning Point USA reportedly covered the cost of renting the stadium, while city workers such as sanitation and the Glendale Police force had their overtime covered by the city's budget.[9] Mosaic Pro Events were tasked by Turning Point USA to design and produce the memorial at the State Farm Stadium, which reportedly used 37 semi-trucks, and hundreds of crews, vendors and other partners.[10]

The Glendale Police Department anticipated that more than 100,000 people would attend the memorial service.[11] Turning Point USA required those who planned to attend to register, requiring a full name, email address, phone number, and ZIP code.[12] Attendees were directed by Turning Point USA to not wear funeral black to the service, but to instead wear their Sunday best or anything patriotic following a red, white and blue theme.[13]

Security was led by the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security designated the service as a "Special Event Assessment Rating Level 1 event", which has been given to other large events such as the Super Bowl and the Boston Marathon. Federal law enforcement agencies announced prior to the service that they were tracking several threats of unknown credibility against attendees.[14][15] On September 20, an armed man was arrested by the Secret Service at State Farm Stadium and charged with police impersonation.[16] It was later announced by Turning Point USA that the man was doing advanced security screening for a known guest that was not properly coordinated with the Secret Service or Turning Point.[17]

Funeral

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The crowd at the memorial service

Prior to the service, hours of contemporary Christian music were played for the crowd, with many standing holding their arms up in worship.[18] Singers such as Brandon Lake, Chris Tomlin, Phil Wickham, Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, and Lee Greenwood all performed during the service for attendees.[19] The event was described as an evangelical revival blending religion and politics, with its size, intensity and patriotic pageantry invoking a Trump campaign rally on a larger scale. Merchandise was sold in the hallways of the stadium, including red hats emblazoned with "KIRK" on the front similar to the red MAGA hats sold by Trump.[20] During the service there were multiple calls from attendees for assistance, which the majority were categorized as people feeling dizzy or fainting due to dehydration, heat and lack of sleep.[9]

Trump sat next to Elon Musk at the funeral, in their first public meeting since the beginning of their feud earlier in the year. Kirk was a friend of both, and had publicly called for their reconciliation.[21] There were more than two dozen speeches planned for the memorial service, including Erika, Vance, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with Trump scheduled to be the last speaker.[17] Fireworks went off as Erika Kirk and President Trump came to speak.[22] During her speech, Erika said she forgave Tyler Robinson, the man accused of murdering Charlie Kirk.[23] The speeches were displayed on two giant electronic screens with U.S. flags posted on either side.[20]

President Donald Trump on the stage with fireworks

Many of the speeches said that Kirk had become a martyr, with conservative commentator Benny Johnson stating "his power will only grow", Trump saying that Kirk had died for American freedom, and Vance telling the crowd that Kirk had become "a martyr for the Christian faith".[18] Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Kirk was a warrior for both the United States and Christ, and died speaking the truth.[24] In his eulogy, Robert Kennedy Jr. praised Kirk as a champion of free speech.[25]

Miller used religious and combative language during his speech, claiming that Kirk's "army" had risen due to his death and that they would prove worthy of his sacrifice.[26] Miller also espoused the idea, that Trump and others had pushed shortly after Kirk's death, that an unnamed terrorist network was responsible for the shooting, while stating, "We are on the side of goodness. We are on the side of God".[26][27]

Trump's speech focused on pointing the blame of Kirk's death on the left and the Democratic Party, while acknowledging a litany of problems affecting the country across party lines. He argued that "the violence largely comes from the left", making his speech more partisan than other speakers.[28] He also referred to Erika's prior statement of not meeting hate with hate, stating: "[Charlie] did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That's where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent, and I don't want the best for them. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Erika. But now Erika can talk to me and the whole group, and maybe they can convince me that that's not right, but I can't stand my opponent."[29] Trump also teased an announcement regarding autism would occur the next day,[30] stating "I think we found an answer to autism."[31][32][33]

Analysis

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Trump (left) with Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk

The service has been described as a political rally and Christian revival with calls for forgiveness and retribution.[34][35] Many noted the religious theming of the service, with a reporter from BBC News indicating that the decorations and theming were like evangelist Billy Graham's tent crusade from early in his career. Those speaking at the event also celebrated Kirk's Christianity while promising a new enthusiasm among young Americans for more traditional evangelical values.[36] CNN expressed concerns about Christian nationalism and the move away from the separation of church and state due to the heavy religious invoking by top Trump administration members.[27]

Others felt that the political unity shown by top Republicans speaking in honor of Kirk may unify and fortify the Trump administration and the Republican Party.[37] Some commentators felt that the service showed how the loss of Kirk and his ability to unify many under Trump and Republican and conservative values would be missed, while also showcasing those that may step into political power after Trump.[38] At least one reporter later wrote that the memorial showed the collapse of Trump's popularity as he was overshadowed by speakers such as Tucker Carlson and Stephen Miller.[39]

Carlson compared Kirk's death to the death of Jesus: "I can just sort of picture the scene in a lamp-lit room with a bunch of guys sitting around eating hummus, thinking about what to do about this guy telling the truth about us. We must make him stop talking. And there's always one guy with the bright idea, and I could just hear him say, 'I've got an idea. Why don't we just kill him? That'll shut him up.'"[40] The comparison drew criticism from some pro-Israel groups in the United States for allegedly implying that Jews or Israel were responsible for the assassination.[41]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Charlie Kirk memorial to be held in Arizona stadium". Sky News. September 14, 2025. Archived from the original on September 15, 2025. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
  2. ^ Macias, Amanda (September 21, 2025). "Charlie Kirk honored by 90K in one of the largest memorials for a private citizen". Fox News. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  3. ^ "Charlie Kirk memorial service: Police estimate over 90,000 in attendance". The Arizona Republic. September 21, 2025. Retrieved September 22, 2025. About 90,000 to 100,000 people were in attendance for Charlie Kirk's memorial, according to a Glendale police estimate.
  4. ^ "Charlie Kirk Memorial: Erika, Trump to pay tribute—Watch Live". Newsweek. September 21, 2025. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  5. ^ De Young, Lauren; Covarrubias Jr., Rey (September 21, 2025). "Huge crowds flock to Charlie Kirk service, leave exhausted and uplifted". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  6. ^ "Tump says he'll attend funeral – and second lady comforts widow". Sky News. September 12, 2025. Archived from the original on September 15, 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  7. ^ Mendoza, Diego (September 11, 2025). "'You didn't deserve it,' air traffic controller honors Charlie Kirk as casket lands in Arizona". CNN. Archived from the original on September 15, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
  8. ^ Tian, Yang (September 13, 2025). "Charlie Kirk memorial service set to take place in Arizona stadium". BBC News. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  9. ^ a b Cunningham, Jade (September 22, 2025). "Who paid for the Charlie Kirk memorial service?". 12news.com. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  10. ^ Hendricks, Trisha (September 24, 2025). "Behind-the-scenes at Charlie Kirk's memorial". 12news.com. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  11. ^ Gollom, Mark (September 20, 2025). "Security on high alert for Charlie Kirk memorial as more than 100,000 expected". CBC News. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  12. ^ Klein, Betsy (September 15, 2025). "Charlie Kirk funeral poses major test to Secret Service: 'It's all hands on deck — but there's multiple decks'". CNN. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  13. ^ Gallagher, Jacob (September 22, 2025). "The Patriotic Dress Code at Charlie Kirk's Funeral". The New York Times. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  14. ^ Timotija, Filip (September 18, 2025). "Kirk memorial in Arizona to have Super Bowl-level security". The Hill. Archived from the original on September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  15. ^ Barr, Luke; Whitworth, Kayna; Katersky, Aaron; Margolin, Josh (September 18, 2025). "Federal agencies are tracking security threats to Charlie Kirk's funeral". ABC News. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  16. ^ Hawkins, Derek; Wingett, Yvonne; Berman, Mark (September 20, 2025). "Armed man arrested at site of planned memorial service for Charlie Kirk". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  17. ^ a b Gambino, Lauren; Levine, Sam; Mackey, Robert (September 21, 2025). "Charlie Kirk memorial: Trump says he 'hates' his opponents at event attended by tens of thousands". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  18. ^ a b Hutzler, Alexandra; Forrester, Megan (September 21, 2025). "Key takeaways from Charlie Kirk's memorial service". ABC News. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  19. ^ Lordi, Laura (September 21, 2025). "Singers, speakers at Charlie Kirk memorial at State Farm Stadium". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  20. ^ a b Layne, Nathan; Bose, Nandita; Reid, Tim (September 22, 2025). "Kirk praised as US martyr at memorial where religion and politics merged". Reuters. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  21. ^ Gold, Hadas (September 22, 2025). "Charlie Kirk desperately wanted Elon Musk and Donald Trump back together. He succeeded". CNN. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  22. ^ Belz, Emily (September 21, 2025). "Charlie Kirk's Five-Hour Memorial Combined Gospel and Politics". Christianity Today. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  23. ^ Gambino, Lauren (September 22, 2025). "Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, says she forgives man accused of murder". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  24. ^ Liptak, Kevin; Herb, Jeremy (September 22, 2025). "Takeaways from Charlie Kirk's memorial service | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  25. ^ "Robert F. Kennedy Jr. praises Charlie Kirk for championing free speech". NBC News. September 21, 2025. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  26. ^ a b Gainor, Danya (September 21, 2025). "Combative Miller pledges supporters "will prove worthy" of Charlie Kirk's "sacrifice"". CNN. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  27. ^ a b Wolf, Zachary B. (September 22, 2025). "Analysis: The US veers toward Christian nationalism | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  28. ^ Layne, Nathan; Bose, Nandita; Ax, Joseph (September 22, 2025). "At Charlie Kirk memorial, Trump rallies MAGA against political opponents". Reuters. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  29. ^ Messerly, Megan; Ward, Myah (September 21, 2025). "Trump lionizes Charlie Kirk, warns of dangers to America". Politico. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  30. ^ Rockson, Gabrielle (September 22, 2025). "Trump Uses Charlie Kirk Eulogy to Tease Major Autism Announcement. Here's What He and RFK Jr. Are Expected to Claim". People. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  31. ^ Anderson, Zac; Nguyen, Thao (September 21, 2025). "Trump reveals autism announcement during Charlie Kirk memorial: 'We found an answer'". USA Today. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  32. ^ Diamond, Dan; Cha, Ariana Eunjung (September 22, 2025). "Trump administration set to tie Tylenol to autism risk, officials say". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  33. ^ "Trump Rants Against Tylenol, Insisting It's Linked to Autism". Intelligencer. September 22, 2025. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  34. ^ Gambino, Lauren (September 21, 2025). "Charlie Kirk memorial mixes rally and revival as mourners vow to spread Maga message". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  35. ^ "Charlie Kirk's memorial serves as a conservative 'revival,' mixing calls for forgiveness and vengeance". NBC News. September 22, 2025. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  36. ^ Zurcher, Anthony (September 22, 2025). "Kirk memorial's religious and political mix hints at future of MAGA movement". BBC News. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  37. ^ Leary, Alex (September 22, 2025). "A Splintered GOP Shows Signs of Unity in Wake of Charlie Kirk's Killing". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  38. ^ Collinson, Stephen (September 22, 2025). "Trump will never change, but Kirk's death shines a path to MAGA's future". CNN. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  39. ^ Gillespie, Nick (September 23, 2025). "Why the Charlie Kirk Memorial Might Spell the End of Trump and MAGA". Reason. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  40. ^ Cramer, Philissa (September 22, 2025). "Tucker Carlson appears to blame Jews for killing Charlie Kirk with story on Jesus' death". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  41. ^ Mastrangelo, Dominick (September 22, 2025). "Tucker Carlson faces accusations of antisemitism over Kirk eulogy". The Hill. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
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