Charlie Kirk's memorial service taking place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, a well-known nonprofit organization, was tragically assassinated on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. Thousands of people are expected to attend memorial services for Kirk today at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
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Trump praises Erika Kirk’s strength and poise following emotional memorial speech
President Donald Trump met with press aboard Marine One shortly after Sunday’s emotional memorial service for Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Trump offered heartfelt words of support for Kirk’s widow Erika during the brief Q and A session when he was asked about a private moment he shared with her after the event.
“I’ve gotten to know her over the years. She’s great,” Trump said. “You know, Charlie always used to say, ‘She’s smart.’ He would always say that. You don’t necessarily say that about a lot of people, but he always felt that.”
Trump also spoke about Erika’s character and resilience in the wake of the tragedy.
“She’s got a good heart. And she’s got a shot at making it even more special when you think about it. She’s gonna do good. I think she’s gonna do a good job,” Trump said. “That’s a hard thing to do. You know, it’s one thing to make a speech. For her to make that speech, cause they had a really good relationship.”
Follow updates on Charlie Kirk's memorial and legacy
Click here to follow today's updates on Charlie Kirk's memorial and legacy.
Trump: Turning point USA will carry Charlie Kirk’s torch
President Donald Trump told reporters, while traveling back to Washington, D.C., following Charlie Kirk’s memorial service in Arizona, that the movement built by the activist is too strong to fade.
Trump vowed that Turning Point USA will play a central role in carrying out Kirk’s faith and vision.
When asked, he told reporters that he and his team will work to ensure Kirk’s mission is continued over the next three years.
“Well, I think it’s gonna be automatic actually, and I think Turning Point is going to be a very big factor,” Trump said. “You see the people — the press reported 200,000, because there were different areas, different stadiums — a lot of people. That’s a big, that’s an NFL stadium.”
Trump also praised the organization, saying it’s a testament to Kirk’s leadership and to the energy of young conservatives across the U.S.
“I think it’s gonna be automatic, I really do, it’s automatic,” he said. “They’re great people. Good staff, and they’re great people.”
White House says Charlie Kirk memorial aired on every major US network
White House communications director Steven Cheung said the Charlie Kirk memorial aired on every major U.S. network Sunday, describing the event as a revival.
He also posted a collage on X showing Erika Kirk appearing on networks across the country.
The outlets included Fox News, CNN, ABC News, C-SPAN, NewsNation, Newsmax, and MSNBC, among others.
“Every single network across America and many around the world are taking this revival live,” Cheung wrote. “For Charlie.”
White House shares powerful image of Erika Kirk at Charlie Kirk memorial
The White House shared an image of Erika Kirk, wife of the late Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk, speaking at his memorial at a packed State Farm Arena in Arizona on Sunday.
The photo shows Erika Kirk from behind, appearing to pray before stepping to the podium to address the massive crowd.
“America is with you @MrsErikaKirk,” the White House said in its post.
In her remarks, Kirk recalled advice from second lady Usha Vance that she said has helped her endure her grief.
She also forgave the alleged shooter accused of killing her husband at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.
Charlie ‘reawakened’ a generation indoctrinated to hate America, says his pastor
Charlie Kirk’s pastor, Rob McCoy, appeared on The Weekend Show after speaking at the Arizona Memorial, where he reflected on Kirk’s legacy and the impact he left behind.
McCoy spoke of the surge in new believers and emphasized Kirk’s understanding of America’s history. “He was in a sense a Moses,” McCoy said.
According to McCoy, Kirk’s work struck a chord with young people: “He reawakened an entire generation of young people that had been indoctrinated to hate America and to think that our founders were awful,” he explained.
The pastor added that Kirk’s influence continues to inspire. “People have been awakened to this form of government, and now they are excited about it," he said.
Attendees call Erika Kirk’s message of forgiveness at Charlie Kirk memorial ‘really moving’
As crowds left the Charlie Kirk memorial in Arizona on Sunday, some attendees said the late Turning Point USA founder’s wife’s comments on forgiving the alleged shooter were “moving.”
Fox News’ Bill Melugin stopped a man named Mike, who weighed in on Erika Kirk’s emotional speech.
“Erika’s entire speech was really moving, in the fact she was able to even bring herself to forgive the shooter,” he said. “I mean, it was even just talking about it right now with you, man. Emotional. Really emotional. Really, really emotional.”
Mike said he attended the event with his wife and son, and they arrived at the State Farm Arena at 4:30 a.m. to make sure they were able to get inside.
“It was really great and it was…it was good for the country. It's healing to hear and see all the people that were here talking,” Mike said. “It's a small blip on America that shows the movement that he was able to push. The entire movement is because of him and the message that he preaches of Christ, move forward, be Christ-like, help the country grow in the correct direction.”
Charlie Kirk honored with powerful tribute video at memorial
A powerful video honoring Charlie Kirk's life was played at his memorial on Sunday.
The video featured pictures and clips from the conservative icon's life. Many of the videos featured his children. It was narrated by his widow, Erika Kirk, who is now the CEO of Turning Point USA.
Elon Musk says Charlie Kirk was killed ‘because his words made a difference’
Elon Musk said Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was targeted “because his words made a difference,” describing his death as the work of “the dark” as bagpipes played “Amazing Grace.”
Asked why Kirk was killed, Musk said it was because his message mattered.
“He was killed because his words made a difference, because he was showing people the light and he was killed by the dark,” Musk said.
The SpaceX CEO was later seen shaking hands and chatting with President Donald Trump.
Trump blasts those who cheered Charlie Kirk’s death
President Donald Trump on Sunday denounced those who simultaneously mourned the suspension of a late-night tv show while celebrating Charlie Kirk's assassination.
“Some of the very people who call you a hater for using the wrong pronouns were filled with glee at the killing of a father with two beautiful young children,” Trump said during his remarks at the conservative activist's memorial service at State Farm Stadium. “And the same commentators who this week are screaming fascism over a canceled late-night TV show, where the anchor had no talent and no ratings, last week were implying that Charlie Kirk deserved what happened to him.”
Trump condemned what he described as “sick approval, excuses or even jubilation” in the wake of Kirk’s killing.
“Some of the very same people who spent the last eight years trying to sit in moral judgment of anyone who disagreed with them about politics, suddenly started cheering for a murder,” he said. “Incredible.”
ABC recently indefinitely suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” following Kimmel’s controversial remarks about Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating Kirk at Utah Valley University earlier this month.
Small group of left-wing protesters organize outside Charlie Kirk's memorial service
A small group of protesters were seen outside of Charlie Kirk's memorial service on Sunday.
One protester was seen carrying a trans pride flag, while another had a sign reading, "Rot in hell."
"I know it's an inappropriate place to protest, that's why I'm doing it," one woman told Fox News Digital.
"Bad things happen to bad people," she added.
Trump embraces Erika Kirk at memorial
President Donald Trump wrapped up his speech at Charlie Kirk's memorial by calling his widow, Erika Kirk, out on stage with him.
The president embraced Erika Kirk in a touching moment. The two stood together as "America the Beautiful" played in the stadium.
Trump says Charlie Kirk's assassin should receive 'ultimate punishment'
President Donald Trump forcefully addressed the arrest of the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk.
“The depraved assassin who planned and executed Charlie’s killing has been arrested and charged with capital murder,” Trump told the crowd in Arizona.
“God willing, he will receive the full and ultimate punishment for his horrific crime,” the president said.
Trump condemned the attack as not just a personal tragedy but a national one.
“You can’t let that happen. You can’t let that happen to a country,” he said, warning against political violence.
He also added that the Department of Justice is investigating “networks of radical left maniacs who fund, organize, and perpetrate” such attacks and reminded mourners that “law enforcement can only be the beginning of our response to Charlie’s murder.”
Trump says Charlie Kirk will receive Presidential Medal of Freedom at White House ceremony
President Donald Trump said he plans to posthumously award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony at the White House “in a very safe Washington, D.C.”
Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, and the next day, Trump announced he would be awarding the highest civilian honor to the Turning Point USA founder in the form of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
While speaking at Kirk’s memorial in Arizona on Sunday, Trump shared where the medal would be awarded.
“We will do the ceremony at our beautiful White House in a very safe Washington, D.C., a place that Charlie truly revered,” the president said.
Trump then went on to talk about how he stopped crime in the nation’s capital in 12 days, allowing people to be able to walk down the street safely.
Trump remembers Charlie Kirk as 'a giver, much more than a taker' at memorial
President Donald Trump remembered Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk as a tireless advocate who often persuaded him to attend events on short notice. He called Kirk “a giver, much more than a taker” who never overlooked anyone.
Trump recalled Kirk calling him the night before major events across the country to ask if he would speak. He described Kirk as a “very convincing guy” who never stopped pressing him, sometimes asking him to appear in California the very next day.
“He just wouldn't stop and he succeeded,” Trump said. “But I almost always went because you never wanted to let Charlie down. You worked so hard, you just didn't want to let him down.
“I felt guilty. He'd make me feel very guilty as president. Many people asked me for things, but Charlie was one of the few who always gave more than he took. He was a giver, much more than a taker. And no matter how big Charlie became, no one was too small for him to notice. He was good to everybody, it didn't matter.”
Trump praises Charlie Kirk and calls him a 'martyr for American freedom'
President Donald Trump called Charlie Kirk a “martyr for American freedom” during his remarks at the conservative activist’s memorial service.
"He's a great American hero, that's what he is," Trump said, adding that the late Turning Point USA founder was a patriot.
"America loved Charlie Kirk," the president said, adding that history will remember Kirk's legacy.
Erika Kirk recalls powerful insight Usha Vance shared with her about grief
Erika Kirk described how second lady Usha Vance comforted her aboard Air Force Two with the advice to face grief “15 minutes at a time,” words she said were exactly what she needed.
She recalled being on the tarmac the day after her husband’s death, when she reached out to Vance for comfort.
“I held her hand and I told her honestly, I do not know how I am going to get through this. She told me something. She said, ‘You know when you're on an airplane with your kids and it's the last 15 minutes of the flight and things are crazy? Kids are not cooperating, toys are flying everywhere, and everyone screaming? And you think to yourself, I cannot wait for this flight to land, and it's 15 minutes before you land?’” Erika said. “She told me, ‘You will get through these 15 minutes and the next 15 minutes after that.’ Usha, I don't think you realized it then, but those words were exactly what I needed to hear.”
Erika Kirk says she forgives the man that killed her husband: 'What Charlie would do'
At Sunday’s memorial for her husband, Erika Kirk said she forgives the man who shot and killed Charlie Kirk earlier this month.
She said Charlie’s mission focused on reaching young men in search of direction.
“Charlie passionately wanted to reach and save the lost boys of the West. The young men who feel like they have no direction, no purpose, no faith, and no reason to live. The men wasting their lives on distractions and the men consume with resentment, anger and hate,” Erika Kirk said. “Charlie wanted to help them. He wanted them to have a home with Turning Point USA. And when he went on to campus, he was looking to show them a better path and a better life. That was right there for the taking. He wanted to show them that.
“My husband, Charlie. He wanted to save. Young men, just like the one who took his life. That young man. That young man on the cross. Our Savior said that. Father. Forgive them, for they not know what they do,” she continued. “You, that man. That young man. I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did. And is what Charlie would do. The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.”
Erika Kirk receives standing ovation and tells of her 'level of heartache'
Erika Kirk received a long standing ovation from thousands of mourners. The mother of two wiped tears from her eyes and appeared to pause briefly to pray, her voice heavy with emotion.
She recalled the painful moment at the hospital when she saw his body.
“I saw the wound that ended his life. I felt everything you would expect to feel. I felt shock. I felt horror and a level of heartache I didn’t even know existed,” she said.
Erika also shared a moment of tenderness. “In death, I could see the man that I love. I saw the one single gray hair on the side of his head, which I never told him about. Now he knows. Sorry, baby," she smiled before explaining she also noticed a faint smile on his lips as a mercy which assured her that Charlie did not suffer.
Donald Trump Jr. says Charlie's loss 'cannot be the end of the story'
Donald Trump Jr. drew laughs from the crowd when he opened his speech by playfully imitating his father, President Donald Trump, telling him to tone down his social media posts.“I've even gotten the call from that guy a couple of times. You know, done done,” he said of his father.
“You're getting a little aggressive on social media.”Trump Jr. went on to honor Charlie Kirk and declared “We are all Charlie” in his speech.
“His loss cannot be the end of the story,” the president’s son added.
Trump Jr. also outlined what he believed to be at the core of Charlie Kirk’s movement.
“When people disagree with us, we don’t silence them. We don’t destroy them. And we certainly don’t sink to violence. We don’t burn down their businesses. We don’t scream at their children at Disneyland. No, we debate. We stand tall and we win with our ideas,’ he said.
He also highlighted Kirk’s faith in the power of persuasion. “Charlie delighted in his belief that people could be persuaded, and he believed the way to win hearts was with truth, with courage, and with conversation,” he said.