Thousands gathered at State Farm Stadium on Sunday for an emotional memorial service honoring Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, who was shot and killed earlier this month during a campus speaking event in Utah.
President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk, and other high-profile figures attended the service, paying tribute to the conservative activist’s influence on American politics and faith.
Trump’s Tribute
Speaking after the service, Trump praised Kirk’s widow, Erika, for her strength and resilience.
“She’s got a good heart,” Trump told reporters aboard Marine One. “She’s going to do good. That’s a hard thing to do, but she’s strong.”
During his remarks inside the stadium, Trump called Kirk a “martyr for American freedom” and vowed that Turning Point USA would continue to shape the nation’s conservative movement.
“I think Turning Point is going to be a very big factor,” Trump said. “Charlie was a giver, much more than a taker. America loved him.”
Trump also announced plans to posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom at a White House ceremony, calling it the highest honor for “a great American hero.”
Erika Kirk’s Emotional Message
Erika Kirk, a former Miss Arizona USA and mother of the couple’s two young children, delivered a moving eulogy in which she forgave the accused shooter.“The answer to hate is not hate,” she said through tears. “The answer is love — love for our enemies and for those who persecute us. That is what Christ did, and that is what Charlie would have done.”
Her words drew a prolonged standing ovation from the crowd, many of whom were moved by her decision to offer forgiveness in the face of tragedy.
Reflections from Leaders and Friends
Vice President JD Vance described Kirk as a devoted father and advocate for the next generation, saying, “Charlie lived the truth he preached.”Donald Trump Jr. also spoke, recalling Kirk’s relentless energy and belief in debate over division. “His loss cannot be the end of the story. We are all Charlie,” he said.
Elon Musk called Kirk’s assassination an attack on free speech. “He was killed because his words made a difference,” Musk told mourners.
Pastor Rob McCoy likened Kirk’s role to that of a modern Moses, saying he had “reawakened a generation” to faith and patriotism.
A Movement That Endures
Across the United States, vigils and tributes have continued since Kirk’s death on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University. State Farm Stadium — home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals — hosted tens of thousands for Sunday’s memorial, with coverage broadcast across every major U.S. network.
Trump closed the service by embracing Erika Kirk on stage as “America the Beautiful” played, telling the crowd that Kirk’s vision for young conservatives will live on.
“You can’t let this happen to a country,” Trump warned, denouncing political violence. “Charlie’s mission will continue.”