{"id":172924,"date":"2025-09-22T01:13:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T01:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/172924\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T01:13:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T01:13:10","slug":"tens-of-thousands-celebrate-charlie-kirk-at-memorial-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/172924\/","title":{"rendered":"Tens of thousands celebrate Charlie Kirk at memorial service\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

GLENDALE, Ariz. \u2014 President Donald Trump praised Charlie Kirk as a \u201cgreat American hero\u201d and \u201cmartyr\u201d for freedom as he and other prominent conservatives gathered Sunday evening to honor the slain conservative political activist whose work they say they must now advance.<\/p>\n

The memorial service for Kirk, whom Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, drew tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice President JD Vance, other senior administration officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a martyr now for America\u2019s freedom,\u201d Trump said in his tribute. \u201cI know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie. And neither now will history.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speakers highlighted Kirk\u2019s profound faith and his strong belief that young conservatives need to get married, build families and pass on their values to keep building their movement. They also repeatedly told conservative activists, sometimes in confrontational tones, that the best way to honor Kirk was doubling down on his mission to move American politics further to the right.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America and defending the truth than it is to die on our knees,\u201d Vance said. \u201cMy friends, for Charlie, we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America. And he is a martyr for the Christian faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kirk\u2019s assassination at a Sept. 10 appearance on a Utah college campus has become a singular moment for the modern-day conservative movement. It also has set off a fierce debate about violence, decency and free speech in an era of deep political division.<\/p>\n

The shooting has stirred fear among some Americans that Trump is trying to harness outrage over the killing as justification to suppress the voices of his critics and political opponents.<\/p>\n

High security and a full stadium<\/p>\n

Those close to Kirk prayed and the floors shook from the bass of Christian rock bands as the home of the NFL\u2019s Arizona Cardinals took on the feel of a megachurch service.<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie looked at politics as an on-ramp to Jesus,\u201d said the Rev. Rob McCoy, Kirk\u2019s pastor.<\/p>\n

People began lining up before dawn to secure a spot inside State Farm Stadium west of Phoenix, where Kirk\u2019s Turning Point organization is based. Security was tight, similar to the Super Bowl or other high-profile event. The speakers delivered their tributes from behind bullet-proof glass.<\/p>\n

The 63,400-seat stadium quickly filled with people dressed in red, white and blue, as organizers suggested.<\/p>\n

Kirk\u2019s widow, Erika, in her own address said in the midst of her grief she was finding comfort that her husband left this world without regrets. She also said she forgives the man who is charged with killing him.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,\u201d said Erika Kirk, who is taking over as Turning Point\u2019s leader. She added, \u201cI forgive him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump has blamed the \u201cradical left\u201d for Kirk\u2019s death and threatened to go after liberal organizations and donors or others who he feels are maligning or celebrating Kirk\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

Dozens of people, from journalists to teachers to late show host Jimmy Kimmel, have faced suspensions or lost their jobs as prominent conservative activists and administration officials target comments about Kirk that they deem offensive or celebratory. The retaliation has in turn ignited a debate over the First Amendment as the Republican administration promises retribution against those who air what are seen as disparaging remarks in the wake of Kirk\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

Some speakers at the memorial said Kirk was battling evil and referred often to a vague \u201cthey\u201d as the enemy. Others were blunt.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have no idea the dragon you have awakened, you have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilization, to save the West, to save this republic,\u201d said White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe slayed ignorance,\u201d said Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. \u201cHe cut through lies. He woke people\u2019s minds, inspired people\u2019s hearts and imparted wisdom every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

A 22-year-old Utah man, Tyler Robinson, has been charged with killing Kirk and faces the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges. Authorities have not revealed a clear motive in the shooting, but prosecutors say Robinson wrote in a text to his partner following the shooting that he \u201chad enough\u201d of Kirk\u2019s hatred.<\/p>\n

\"AttendeesAttendees listen as President Donald Trump speaks at a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
\n\"SupportersSupporters attend a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo\/Ross D. Franklin)
\n\"DanDan Beazley carries a cross at a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo\/John Locher)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"GLENDALE, Ariz. \u2014 President Donald Trump praised Charlie Kirk as a \u201cgreat American hero\u201d and \u201cmartyr\u201d for freedom…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":172925,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[23,1017,12,2558,2744,3,21,19,22,20,25,24],"class_list":{"0":"post-172924","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-united-states","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-arizona","10":"tag-donald-trump","11":"tag-latest-headlines","12":"tag-nation","13":"tag-news","14":"tag-united-states","15":"tag-united-states-of-america","16":"tag-unitedstates","17":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","18":"tag-us","19":"tag-usa"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=172924"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172924\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/172925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=172924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=172924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=172924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}