Charlie Kirk memorial service wowed by Erika Kirk forgiving husband's killer
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 attended memorial services for Kirk Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Coverage for this event has ended.
An image of Charlie Kirk is projected on a screen ahead of his public memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on September 21, 2025. (Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images)
Wyoming state Rep. Scott Smith, who relies on crutches because of a disability, walked nearly three miles to attend the Charlie Kirk memorial in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, the Cowboy State Daily reported.
Smith and his wife, Charissa, traveled from their hometown of Lingle, Wyoming, to Arizona for the service. They drove to Denver, flew to Phoenix, and headed for the stadium before sunrise, only to be stopped by gridlocked traffic nearly three miles from the venue.
With the handicap lot full, Smith parked about 2.5 miles away. On crutches, he and his wife made their way through crowds, gravel, and rising heat to reach the memorial.
Smith described the trek as painful and hazardous but said he felt God urging him forward, calling it “a moment in history” to honor Kirk. He added that the service felt like a revival, emphasizing worship and biblical values.
His biggest takeaway, he said, was that “the most important thing in life is your walk with Christ.”
Charlie Kirk speaks before he is shot during Turning Point's visit to Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)
Texas state Rep. Erin Zwiener, a Democrat, criticized Texas State University on Facebook for removing a student who was filmed mocking the assassination of Charlie Kirk, calling the move a violation of free speech.
The video showed the student grabbing his neck, collapsing to the ground, and spitting — an apparent imitation of the Turning Point USA founder’s killing at Utah Valley University earlier this month.
In her post, Zwiener argued that the student’s behavior was “insensitive, rude, and thoughtless” but nonetheless constitutionally protected.
She accused Gov. Greg Abbott and the university of engaging in a politically motivated “witch hunt” that denied the student due process.
“At worst, this student’s actions were insensitive, rude, and thoughtless, but because they were insensitive to a Trump-affiliated murder victim, this student was apparently denied due process and forced out of the university,” she wrote.
Zwiener contrasted the swift discipline in this case with what she described as silence on more serious campus controversies, including racist propaganda and sexual assault cases. She urged Texans to resist what she called political intimidation by speaking out, protesting, and using “the tools of democracy” at the ballot box.
A large crowd gathered at the University of Minnesota for Turning Point USA’s first campus event since founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University.
Conservative media host Michael Knowles served as guest speaker and, in Kirk’s honor, opened the floor for questions after his remarks.
On X, TPUSA posted a video celebrating the launch of its Turning Point Tour at the University of Minnesota with Knowles, saying, “This is the Turning Point Tour kicks off at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities with @michaeljknowles and an amazing turnout.”
People stand as they attend the public memorial service for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Sept. 21, 2025. (Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images)
Andrew Kolvet told Fox News’ Jesse Watters that geotagging detected more than 277,000 devices at Charlie Kirk’s memorial, calling the massive turnout and rapid planning “a testament to Kirk’s leadership and the people he surrounded himself with.”
Kolvet, who worked as the executive producer on Kirk’s podcast, added that Kirk would have been proud to see so many people praying, holding vigils, and watching world leaders unite in Phoenix to honor him and “lift up the name of Jesus.”
He said Erika Kirk was deeply moved, often reminding her husband that nothing about his life — or his death — was “normal.”
He described the past 11 days as a whirlwind, from grief and heartbreak to the challenge of staging a stadium-sized memorial in less than a week.
Kolvet credited the TPUSA team with achieving what should have taken six months in only six days, calling it a testament to Kirk’s leadership and legacy.
Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk speaks during the Turning Point Action's The Believers Summit 2024 ahead of Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump’s presentation, in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., July 26, 2024. (REUTERS/Marco Bello)
Sinclair Broadcast Group canceled a planned Charlie Kirk tribute just minutes before it was scheduled to air, after violent threats against its ABC affiliates forced the company to shift the program online amid fears of further attacks, according to a report.
The New York Post reported that the decision came after a shooting at an ABC station in Sacramento, California, where a gunman opened fire in the lobby. No one was injured, but the suspect—initially released on bail—was later taken into custody by the FBI.
Sinclair, which operates more than 40 ABC affiliates, feared the broadcast could encourage similar violence.
Executives moved the program to YouTube and ordered increased security at all facilities, the Post reported.
Sinclair also notified law enforcement and private security providers, though details about which agencies were formally engaged remain unclear.
Charlie Kirk speaks at CPAC in Oxon Hill, Maryland. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)
A conservative political action committee launched an effort to expose teachers across the country justifying Charlie Kirk’s assassination online and is pushing back on claims from the left that conservatives are being hypocritical about free speech.
Stefano Forte, executive director of 1776 Project PAC, spoke to Fox News digital about the new form live on the organization’s website where users can flag teachers and administrators who have justified Kirk’s killing online, a form he says has already yielded an "endless stream of tips."
"Many people are essentially happy that Charlie Kirk has been killed. And these people are in charge of the next generations," Forte said.
As conservatives online have launched a variety of efforts to expose online hate directed at Kirk, numerous elected officials and pundits on the left have accused the political right of cracking down on free speech, which Forte called "ridiculous."
Find out what conservatives are doing to expose hate directed at Kirk.
This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller.
Mikey McCoy, speaking on Fox News’ “The Story” with Martha MacCallum, called Charlie Kirk a martyr whose legacy is sparking a wave of faith, forgiveness, and renewed commitment to dialogue in the wake of his assassination.
McCoy told MacCallum Kirk was a martyr for using his voice to engage in peaceful dialogue. Kirk’s former chief of staff also highlighted the scale of the memorial, which he claimed had over 277,000 in-person attendees and 100 million people streaming online
During the interview, McCoy dismissed Don Lemon’s criticism that the memorial reflected “religious nationalism,” countering that neither Lemon nor late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel could draw the massive crowds and engagement that Kirk’s legacy inspired.
“I don't think Don Lemon's very big anymore. His ratings fell off the roof and he lost his show, so I don't know how many people are listening to his statements anymore,” McCoy said. “Charlie would totally agree with his ability to execute free speech and say whatever he wants. He would say the same for Jimmy Kimmel, but ultimately he's not funny anymore. Both of them have bad views, bad ratings, and neither of them could fill a stadium with a hundred thousand people.”
McCoy also talked about his father, pastor Rob McCoy, leading an altar call at the memorial that drew many newcomers to Christianity.
“What we saw at that event yesterday was a microcosmic glimpse of what heaven is like right now … hundreds of thousands of people gathering in a stadium to lay their heartbreak and their pain at the feet of Jesus to worship for three hours,” McCoy said.
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA speaks during the Turning Point Action conference, July 15, 2023, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Large donors and Trump allies have rallied behind Turning Point USA (TPUSA) after the assassination of founder Charlie Kirk, a surge in support that analysts told The Guardian is likely to keep the group a powerful force on the American right.
Among them, Lynn Friess — widow of early mega-donor Foster Friess — pledged $1 million, saying her gift would support a surge in new chapters across the U.S.
In 2024, TPUSA more than doubled its 2020 fundraising, bringing in roughly $85 million. At the time of Kirk’s death, the group counted 900 college chapters, 1,200 high school chapters, and tens of thousands of new chapter inquiries.
RESTAURANT IN MAJOR CITY FACES FALLOUT OVER 'OFFENSIVE' CHARLIE KIRK POST BY CO-OWNER
Major donors reportedly include the Bradley Impact Fund, Donors Trust, and the Deason Foundation.
“Charlie was an extraordinary fundraiser with deep ties to President Trump and his son Don Jr.,” Republican consultant Chuck Coughlin reportedly told The Guardian. “He is a big loss to them and they will be scrambling to fill that void.”
Reps. Nancy Mace, left, and Andy Biggs, right, are among the Republicans to cry hypocrisy over House Democrats' fractured vote on a resolution honoring the "life and legacy" of Charlie Kirk. (Getty Images)
Republican lawmakers are accusing Democrats of playing politics over a resolution honoring the "life and legacy" of Charlie Kirk, which passed the House along bipartisan lines last week.
The Friday vote split Democrats – 95 voted to approve the measure, 58 voted in opposition, 38 voted "present" and 22 did not vote.
House Republicans have been hammering those 58, and several pointed out the fractured vote was much different from an earlier resolution condemning an attack on state lawmakers from Minnesota who were shot earlier this year.
That resolution passed the House in a unanimous 424-0 vote in late June.
Find out what Republican lawmakers are saying.
This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind.
Charlie Kirk friend Andrew Kolvet vehemently defended Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension this week as critics raged over First Amendment concerns. (Randy Holmes/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
ABC’s "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will return on Tuesday after a brief suspension, The Walt Disney Company has announced.
"Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday," a Disney spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
Kimmel's late-night show was pulled off the air last Wednesday after Kimmel's remarks about the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk sparked outrage and a veiled threat from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Disney decided to suspend the show after two major affiliate owners pulled airings of Kimmel from their stations, and Kimmel reportedly had told executives he would not apologize for his comments.
Read more about Kimmel’s return.
This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Brian Flood.
Autumn Perkins of Middletown, Ohio, was startled when an employee wrote a hateful message on her Starbucks cup. (Autumn Perkins)
An Ohio woman ordered Charlie Kirk’s go-to Starbucks drink on Sunday evening — and was startled to find a hateful message written on the cup.
Autumn Perkins, who lives in Middletown, Ohio, visited a Starbucks location inside Kroger and run by Kroger to order the mint majesty with two honeys.
When she received her order, she was shocked to see that an employee had written "racist’s fav drink" on the side of the cup.
RESTAURANT IN MAJOR CITY FACES FALLOUT OVER 'OFFENSIVE' CHARLIE KIRK POST BY CO-OWNER
"It's time for people to stop this nonsense," Perkins told Fox News Digital.
Find out what happened to the employee after she allegedly wrote the disturbing message.
This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Melissa Rudy.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (Florida AG Office)
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Monday launched the Combat Violent Extremism Portal, allowing citizens to anonymously report politically motivated threats. The move follows rising violence against ICE officers and the recent assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk.
Through the portal, Floridians can upload screenshots, videos, and other evidence of politically motivated threats.
The Office of Statewide Prosecution will review submissions and determine whether to pursue charges. Officials stressed the portal is not for emergencies and urged citizens to call 911 if facing immediate danger.
“Threats of political violence will not be tolerated in Florida,” Uthmeier said. “That is why today we are launching a new tool, simply named the Combat Violent Extremism Portal, to report acts or threats of political violence.”
A day after a large memorial service for Charlie Kirk in Arizona, Turning Point USA — the organization he founded — announced a national campus tour to carry on his work.
“Our campus tour this fall will continue Charlie’s mission,” his wife, Erika Kirk, said in a statement on the organization’s website.
The announcement listed several high-profile speakers, including Megyn Kelly, Glenn Beck, Michael Knowles, Sen. Mike Lee, Vivek Ramaswamy, Frank Turek, and Erika Kirk.
Additional participants include Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, comedian Rob Schneider, and Fox News contributor Jason Chaffetz.
The tour is scheduled to begin Sept. 22 at the University of Minnesota. Stops include Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., on Sept. 24, and Utah State University in Logan on Sept. 30.
The tour continues through Nov. 10, when it concludes at the University of California, Berkeley.
A large banner is installed prior to the Charlie Kirk memorial services at State Farm Stadium Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
There were zero felony arrests and just two misdemeanor arrests at Charlie Kirk’s memorial at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, the Maricopa County Attorney’s office told Fox News Digital on Monday.
Given local law enforcement’s estimate of the massive crowd size of 90,000 to 100,000 people, the arrest count was “super impressive,” the attorney’s office said.
Mourners had traveled from across the country and waited in line for hours outside the stadium. The 63,400-seat stadium, home to the Arizona Cardinals, filled with people dressed in red, white and blue. Some people had to be turned away as the venue reached capacity.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Erika Kirk’s act of “mercy” in forgiving her husband’s alleged killer was “one of the greatest acts of grace this world has ever seen.”
Leavitt made the remarks during the Monday’s White House press briefing, the first since the memorial service for Charlie Kirk.
“All across the country, millions of Americans have prayed, hosted vigils, attended church services, became politically engaged for the first time, and honored the legacy of Charlie and the ideals he died speaking for,” she said. “The beautiful memorial service attended by President Trump and 100,000 great Americans at state Farm Stadium, yesterday was just the latest, latest example.”
“And Erika Kirk's mercy was one of the greatest acts of grace this world has ever seen,” she added. “May God continue to watch over Erika and their beautiful children.”
Leavitt also scolded House Democrats for being the exception to the “unity” seen at the memorial service after 58 voted no and 38 voted present on a resolution to honor the "life and legacy" of the late conservative activist on Friday.
The measure got bipartisan support in a 310-58 vote, with both Democrats and Republicans having quickly risen to condemn political violence in the wake of Kirk's assassination.
“A number of those same Democrats took to the House floor to smear Charlie Kirk's name,” she said. “The man wasn't even buried yet, and Democrat members of Congress were denigrating his memory on the floor of the House of Representatives. This was truly a sad moment, and a clear reflection of how radical the Democrat Party has become.”
Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
A T-shirt on the Turning Point USA online store with new merchandise honoring Charlie Kirk. (Turning Point USA)
After Charlie Kirk's massive memorial service, Turning Point USA (TPUSA) announced that merchandise purchased through its online store could take up to 12 weeks to ship.
"Due to the overwhelming support for Charlie and his mission, please allow up to 12 weeks for shipping," the TPUSA website stated.
Ahead of Kirk's memorial on Sunday, TPUSA launched new commemorative merchandise on its website.
One T-shirt features a line-art illustration of the Kirk family walking hand in hand, with a halo above Charlie Kirk’s head. Under the image, in bold block letters, the shirt reads "NEVER SURRENDER," and beneath, in script, it says "Love, An American Mother." A black shirt dubbed as the memorial tee, features a bold distressed graphic with the words "This Is Our Turning Point." The new merchandise also includes baseball hats and stickers.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital’s Amanda Macias.
EXCLUSIVE: More faculty members on college campuses who have celebrated the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk should be penalized, according to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.
McMahon’s comments come as tributes to Kirk on campuses have been defaced, and as higher education institutions have dropped employees for controversial statements regarding Kirk’s death.
"I've seen some of those college presidents who have fired or suspended teachers or other faculty members that have spoken out really incredibly poorly and celebrated Charlie's death — I would like to see more of that, quite frankly," McMahon told Fox News Digital Thursday in Washington at the Reagan Institute Summit on Education.
This is an excerpt from an exclusive report by Fox News Digital's Diana Stancy.
Erika Kirk reacts as she prepares to speak at a memorial for her husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika, said she doesn’t want to be the one to decide whether prosecutors seek the death penalty for her husband’s alleged assassin, revealing she’s worried that seeking revenge may prevent her from reuniting with him in heaven.
"I’ve had so many people ask, ‘Do you feel anger toward this man? Like, do you want to seek the death penalty?’ I’ll be honest. I told our lawyer, I want the government to decide this. I do not want that man’s blood on my ledger. Because when I get to heaven, and Jesus is like: ‘Uh, eye for an eye? Is that how we do it?’ And that keeps me from being in heaven, from being with Charlie?" Erika Kirk told The New York Times.
Charlie Kirk, 31, was gunned down at a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. He was in the midst of answering a question about transgender mass shooters when he was fatally shot in the neck.
Suspect Tyler Robinson , 22, was romantically linked to a transgender partner and the FBI says Robinson confessed to the murder in text messages with that partner. President Donald Trump has expressed hope that Robinson would be given the death penalty, and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said authorities were gathering everything they need in order to pursue the death penalty against the alleged killer.
This is an excerpt from a report by Fox News Digital’s David Spector.
The memorial service for Charlie Kirk had over 100 million streams, according to Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded in 2012.
Andrew Kolvet, a Turning Point USA spokesman and executive producer of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” wrote in a post on social media that production and streaming partners tracked the streaming data for Sunday’s tribute, noting that the 100 million “is JUST what they know about” and “it’s likely much larger.”
“Over 100 million people just heard the Gospel proclaimed again and again by speaker after speaker,” Kolvet wrote. “Truly remarkable.”
The public event also drew between 90,000 and 100,000 people to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, according to local law enforcement crowd estimates.
Between 90,000 and 100,000 people flocked to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday to honor the legacy of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to local law enforcement crowd estimates.
People traveled from across the country and waited in line for hours outside the stadium before the doors. The 63,400-seat stadium quickly filled with people dressed in red, white and blue, as organizers suggested. Some people had to be turned away as the venue reached capacity.
The emotional five-hour service saw speakers, including Kirk’s widow Erika Kirk , President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other Trump administration officials.
“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.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Dr. Frank Turek, mentor and friend to Charlie Kirk, appeared on “FOX & Friends” on Monday morning to discuss Kirk’s life and the legacy that he built.
Turek, who spoke at Kirk’s memorial Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, said that the service “brought joy to my heart," especially seeing Kirk’s wife, Erika Kirk , forgive her husband’s killer.
“It’s only a supernatural force like the Holy Spirit who can do this,” he said.
Turek remembered Kirk for his “soaring intellect” and Kirk’s love of engaging with students in dialogue. He also defended Kirk against those critical of his ideas.
“He loved students and he wanted to dialogue with them,” Turek said. “Isn’t it crazy, Ainsley, that they call somebody like Charlie Kirk a fascist? Do you know of any fascist who gives his opponent the microphone and says, ‘Go ahead, say whatever you want to say. Let’s have a dialogue?’ No, fascists kill their opponents.”
“The guy who killed Charlie was a fascist, not Charlie,” he continued. “It’s amazing how twisted some people get in trying to oppose people they don’t like.”
Tens of thousands of conservatives, young and old, from across the country made the journey to Arizona on Sunday to honor the legacy of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a memorial service.
Many of those in attendance told Fox News Digital that they awoke in the middle of the night to make hours-long drives to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, where they then waited in long lines outside to honor Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10 during the first stop of Turning Point USA’s "The American Comeback Tour" at Utah Valley University.
"Everyone became friends in line, everyone exchanged numbers, everyone’s on the same team trying to make America great again," Lindsay Rastgoo, who lives in Arizona, told Fox News Digital.
Josh Riesen of Carson City, Nevada, said he left around 4:30 a.m. Saturday and arrived later that afternoon.
"His word is not going to go away. It’s going to get even stronger from here on out, I think," he said.
This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital's Emma Colton and Stephen Sorace.
President Donald Trump, left, hugs Erika Kirk at the memorial of her husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
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.”
Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk arrives to speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at Thomas & Mack Center, Oct. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
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.
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.”
Live Coverage begins here