Tens of thousands honor Charlie Kirk along with political leaders in Arizona

The memorial service blended worship, political defiance and emotional tributes, with speakers ranging from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance to senior Trump administration officials delivering messages of resolve, each promising that Kirk’s influence would only grow in the wake of his assassination.

The mix of religious devotion and political urgency underscored the dual identity of Kirk’s movement—a cause rooted in evangelical Christianity but also a driving force in the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement on college campuses.

Erika Kirk: Forgiveness and call to action

Erika Kirk, the newly appointed CEO of Turning Point USA, shocked the crowd by offering grace to her husband’s accused killer.

“My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life,” she said, her voice breaking. “That young man, I forgive him.” Quoting Jesus, she added: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Erika described a marriage built on faith and service, recalling weekly love letters from Charlie and urging men to “embrace true manhood” and “be strong and courageous for your families.”

Though acknowledging the pain of unfinished work, she vowed to expand her husband’s mission.

“The world needs a group that will point young people away from the path of misery and sin,” she said. “Every part of our work will become greater.”

President Trump: Praise, politics and Medal of Freedom

Closing the service, President Trump oscillated between a heartfelt tribute and combative political rhetoric.

“He’s bigger now than ever before. And he’s eternal,” he declared, promising to award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Trump lauded Kirk as “a missionary with a noble spirit” but added a striking personal admission: “He did not hate his opponents, he wanted the best for them. That’s where I disagree with Charlie. I hate my opponents and I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry, I am sorry Erika.”

Trump also used his speech to reference policy priorities, including efforts to address crime in Chicago.

“We’re going to go do Chicago, and we’re going to have Charlie very much in mind when we go into Chicago,” he said.

Vice President JD Vance: Revival over funeral

Vice President Vance, a close friend of Kirk, framed the memorial as a moment of renewal.

“The evil murderer who took Charlie from us expected us to have a funeral today, and instead, my friends, we have had a revival,” he said.

He recounted traveling with Kirk’s body on Air Force Two and urged supporters to continue his mission.

“For Charlie, we will never shrink, we will never cower, and we will never falter, even when staring down the barrel of a gun,” Vance said, leading the crowd in a chant of “USA! USA!”

Trump allies and conservative figures rally

Senior Trump administration officials described Kirk as both a political force and a spiritual warrior.

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller declared: “The day that Charlie died, angels wept, but those tears have been turned into fire in our hearts,” vowing to “channel all of the anger…to uproot and dismantle these terrorist networks.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Kirk had come to see their work as “not a political war, it’s not even a cultural war, it’s a spiritual war.”

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. praised Kirk’s “overarching passion” for Christianity, drawing a parallel to Jesus: “Christ died at 33 years old, but he changed the trajectory of history. Charlie died at 31 years old…he also now has changed the trajectory of history.”

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles credited Kirk with helping secure the president’s 2024 victory.

“Charlie didn’t just help, he made the winning difference, I promise you that,” she said.

Turning Point USA

Before the speeches, Turning Point leaders pledged to carry forward Kirk’s vision on campuses nationwide.

“We’re going to make TP USA so big that it reaches you in heaven,” said senior official Stacy Sheridan.

The organization announced that it has received more than 62,000 new requests from students to join or launch chapters since Kirk’s death.

Conservative commentator Jack Posobiec roused the crowd: “Are you ready to continue the mission? Are you ready to fight back?”

The memorial also drew a striking lineup of other notable political and cultural figures. Billionaire Elon Musk sat beside Trump for part of the service, posting a photo captioned “For Charlie” on the US social media company X’s platform.

UFC CEO Dana White, House Speaker Mike Johnson and a host of Republican senators were also present.

“This is like an old-time revival, isn’t it?” Trump said.