US President Donald Trump hailed the conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a 'great American hero' and 'martyr' during a speech to tens of thousands of mourners at a memorial service in Arizona. Trump was the headline speaker at the packed event on Sunday, which saw top officials from his administration, including Vice-President JD Vance, praise Kirk's political legacy after he was shot dead on 10 September.
'He was assassinated because he lived bravely, he lived boldly and he argued brilliantly,' Trump told the crowd at the State Farm Stadium near Phoenix. Kirk's wife, Erika, also delivered a tearful speech in which she said she had forgiven her husband's alleged killer. 'My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,' she said, adding: 'I forgive him because it is what Christ did. The answer to hate is not hate.'
Tens of thousands of people queued for hours outside the stadium before the event, with some even camping out the night before to secure their spot. Many wore Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats and Trump-branded items. Inside the stadium, the mood resembled a raucous political rally, with music from Christian bands prompting standing singalongs from nearly 100,000 attendees.
The list of speakers included members of Kirk's organization, Turning Point USA, which focuses on conservative activism on college campuses, well-known figures in the conservative movement, and those shaped by Kirk's work and right-wing Christian worldview. They stressed the need to continue Kirk's activism and emphasized his deep faith throughout the five-hour service.
Kirk, who was debating students at a university in Utah when he was shot from a nearby rooftop, was repeatedly described as a martyr. Other speakers said they believed his death could invigorate the conservative movement in America, which is already in a strong position with Trump in the White House and Republicans controlling Congress. 'The day that Charlie died, angels wept, but those tears have been turned into fire in our hearts,' remarked Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff.
Kirk was revered as an activist for free speech and a mobilizer of the youth vote for Trump. 'Charlie didn't just help, he made the winning difference,' said White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. His widow, Erika Kirk, was named the new CEO of Turning Point USA after his death, and she expressed her resolve to continue his work, describing both her heartache and her hope for revival in the country following his assassination.
The service underscored the significant political divisions in America and highlighted how Kirk's legacy is being invoked in a broader narrative of political conflict. Overall, the memorial not only remembered a fallen activist but also reinforced the rallying cry for conservative values across America.
'He was assassinated because he lived bravely, he lived boldly and he argued brilliantly,' Trump told the crowd at the State Farm Stadium near Phoenix. Kirk's wife, Erika, also delivered a tearful speech in which she said she had forgiven her husband's alleged killer. 'My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,' she said, adding: 'I forgive him because it is what Christ did. The answer to hate is not hate.'
Tens of thousands of people queued for hours outside the stadium before the event, with some even camping out the night before to secure their spot. Many wore Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats and Trump-branded items. Inside the stadium, the mood resembled a raucous political rally, with music from Christian bands prompting standing singalongs from nearly 100,000 attendees.
The list of speakers included members of Kirk's organization, Turning Point USA, which focuses on conservative activism on college campuses, well-known figures in the conservative movement, and those shaped by Kirk's work and right-wing Christian worldview. They stressed the need to continue Kirk's activism and emphasized his deep faith throughout the five-hour service.
Kirk, who was debating students at a university in Utah when he was shot from a nearby rooftop, was repeatedly described as a martyr. Other speakers said they believed his death could invigorate the conservative movement in America, which is already in a strong position with Trump in the White House and Republicans controlling Congress. 'The day that Charlie died, angels wept, but those tears have been turned into fire in our hearts,' remarked Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff.
Kirk was revered as an activist for free speech and a mobilizer of the youth vote for Trump. 'Charlie didn't just help, he made the winning difference,' said White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. His widow, Erika Kirk, was named the new CEO of Turning Point USA after his death, and she expressed her resolve to continue his work, describing both her heartache and her hope for revival in the country following his assassination.
The service underscored the significant political divisions in America and highlighted how Kirk's legacy is being invoked in a broader narrative of political conflict. Overall, the memorial not only remembered a fallen activist but also reinforced the rallying cry for conservative values across America.
