At Charlie Kirk’s memorial, what we learned from those who knew him best
Charlie Kirk’s memorial service in Glendale, Arizona, drew thousands of attendees and dozens of speakers who shared their memories of the slain activist. Many of the sentiments — such as those about Kirk’s influence in the conservative movement — were well-known, while others were more personal. The newly shared stories shed light on Kirk’s short 31-year life and how his closest friends, employees and family members remember him. Here are some highlights from the service: MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR ASSASSINATED TURNING POINT USA FOUNDER CHARLIE KIRK DRAWS TRUMP, MAJOR GOP FIGURES Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, revealed numerous personal details about their marriage. One of them was a ritual that kept their marriage strong, despite Kirk’s constant travel. “Someone once asked me how Charlie and I thought we kept our marriage so strong when he was busy traveling,” she said. “Our little secret: It was love notes. Every Saturday, Charlie wrote one for me, and he never missed a Saturday.” “And in every single one of them, he’d tell me what his highlight was for the week, how grateful he was for me and our babies,” she added. “And always at the end, he would always end it with asking the most beautiful question … ‘Please let me know how I can better serve you as a husband.’” WHO IS ERIKA KIRK?: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE LATE CHARLIE KIRK’S WIDOW FROM THEIR LOVE STORY TO HIS LEGACY She also spoke about her husband’s love of journaling and his strong belief in mobilizing the conservative student movement. “There was nothing that was too hard or too painful or nothing that he just felt like he didn’t want to do,” she said. “Charlie died with incomplete work, but not with unfinished business. And I will miss him. I will miss him so much. Because our marriage and our family were beautiful.” Sergio Gor, director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, shared how Kirk impacted his life through his Christian faith. “The world of politics can be full of transactional people. Charlie wasn’t one of them,” Gor said. “He was the polar opposite.” “One of the things I will miss the most is receiving a text every morning from Charlie with a daily Bible verse. Charlie would help set the tone of the day for so many of us.” LIVE UPDATES: MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR CHARLIE KIRK Gor was friends with Kirk for more than a decade, and the two traveled the world from Louisiana to Greenland. “Over a decade, we created countless memories, from hunting alligators in Louisiana to eating seal in Greenland to countless nights on the patio at Mar-a-Lago as President Trump played ‘Phantom of the Opera,’” he said. “When President Trump started talking about the importance of Greenland to our national security, Charlie was one of the first people who thought it would be a great idea to visit. He was also one of the first to fall in the snow upon arrival, but without a beat, Charlie got up and continued onward with a smile.” Stacy Sheridan, Turning Point’s senior advancement director, shared how Kirk quietly helped her husband while he was dying of cancer. “Charlie called me consistently to ask how he could help us,” Sheridan recalled. “At one point, he had critical medication and an oxygen machine sent to my doorstep without my knowledge. I still to this day, have no idea how he made that happen. But that was Charlie. He did the right thing.” Sheridan also revealed how she struggled with work during that time, and that Kirk would console her. ERIKA KIRK, AHEAD OF MEMORIAL SERVICE, INSPIRES CHRISTIAN STAFFER TO REMAIN ‘ROOTED IN FAITH’ “Sometimes I would express guilt to Charlie that I couldn’t do my job at 100%. Charlie’s response every single time was, ‘Family first.’ When Mike ultimately passed away, Charlie and the entire team were there for us yet again.” Sheridan also spoke about how Kirk supported her after she lost her home in the Pacific Palisades fire earlier in 2025. “Charlie’s response was very clear and very direct, ‘This is a sign you and Grace belong in Arizona.’ Within a few months, we moved here in Charlie and Erica welcomed us into their family.” Andrew Kolvet, a spokesman for Turning Point USA, shared how much Kirk loved podcasting, even with his busy schedule. Kolvet, an executive producer on the show, noted that Kirk loved sharing his thoughts and hearing from the audience. TURNING POINT USA ANNOUNCES MASSIVE PUBLIC MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR CHARLIE KIRK AT ARIZONA FOOTBALL STADIUM “It was his one constant amid never-ending change, even when he was on the road, even when he was overseas, or even during AmFest or our conferences, we did the show,” Kolvet said. “But mostly it worked because Charlie loved you, the audience,” he said. “He read every single email you all sent to him. That’s why he said every single day, ‘Send us an email at [email protected]. Send us your thoughts.’” At the memorial, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said that “there would be no Congresswoman Luna without Charlie Kirk.” The Florida representative detailed her experience working with Kirk at Turning Point USA as an outreach director. CHARLIE KIRK VIGILS HELD AT UNIVERSITIES ACROSS AMERICA FOLLOWING ASSASSINATION OF CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST “I still remember the phone call that changed my life,” Luna said. “‘Hey, Anna, it’s Charlie. I’d like to offer you a job as Texas National Hispanic Outreach director.’” “Charlie believed with every fiber of his being, that the youth of this nation would save it,” she continued. “These were the sparks that lit the path for me on the eve of my departure to medical school, to decide to change course and join TPUSA, where I could help Charlie battle the socialist indoctrination on college campuses.” Frank Turek, a Christian apologist and mentor to Kirk, was with him on the day of his assassination and helped rush him to the hospital. Turek previously opened up about his experience witnessing
Charlie Kirk mourners gather from across US to celebrate legacy of conservative activist
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. Rastgoo said she began her journey to the stadium at 1:45 a.m. and was excited to honor Kirk’s legacy. LIVE UPDATES: CHARLIE KIRK’S MEMORIAL SERVICE TAKING PLACE TODAY AT STATE FARM STADIUM IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA “I mean he’s changing the world,” she said of the late activist. “People are starting to see the truth in what he says. And people are just starting to see he’s one of the good guys.” Diana Alcorn said she traveled from Oregon because Kirk’s message resonated with her. “I came all the way from Medford, Oregon, because Charlie, he resonates with me as a senior citizen but also for my children and my grandchildren,” she said. Cliff Maloney, CEO of Citizens Alliance, was friends with Kirk and shared his emotions about the massive event with Fox News Digital at the memorial. “This is a revival here,” he said. “People are coming to Christ. They’re talking about their faith. And they’re talking how the radical left took a 31-year-old from us way too soon.” “Charlie’s legacy is not going anywhere,” Maloney said. “It is more prominent now than it could have ever been. Turning Point had over 60,000 people apply to get involved to start a chapter. This is just the beginning.” MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR ASSASSINATED TURNING POINT USA FOUNDER CHARLIE KIRK DRAWS TRUMP, MAJOR GOP FIGURES John Hockhalter, from Sun Lakes, Arizona, told Fox News Digital that Kirk “built something really special” and was encouraging his 21-year-old daughter to check out Kirk’s Turning Point USA organization. “I’m kind of pushing her maybe to check out the TP USA a little bit,” he said. Josh Riesen of Carson City, Nevada, said he left around 4:30 a.m. Saturday and arrived later that afternoon. “I believe in everything he stood for,” Riesen said. “America needs a change, a big change, and he was pushing toward that. I hope the message pushes through and we get a change here.” He said he felt “shock” when he heard about Kirk’s assassination, and that it was hard to believe something like that could happen because of “the power of someone’s word.” “His word is not going to go away. It’s going to get even stronger from here on out, I think,” he said.
Trump announces plan to award Ben Carson the Presidential Medal of Freedom
President Donald Trump announced that Dr. Ben Carson will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, noting that there will be a ceremony at the White House to honor him. “Congratulations Ben. He didn’t know this. He didn’t know it. I hope he’s happy,” Trump said after making the announcement at the conclusion of his remarks at the American Cornerstone Institute’s Founders’ Dinner on Saturday. Carson, who founded the ACI, served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development during Trump’s first term in office. TRUMP REVEALS WHAT BEN CARSON PRIVATELY PREDICTED DURING 2016 GOP PRIMARY FIGHT Carson, a former neurosurgeon, ran for president when Trump mounted his first successful White House bid, but ultimately dropped out and backed Trump in 2016. ACI’s website states that “Dr. Carson is ensuring there is an organization fighting for the principles that have guided him through life, and that make this country great: Faith, Liberty, Community, and Life.” BEN CARSON: AS A DOCTOR, I KNOW FEWER RESTRICTIONS ON MARIJUANA WILL MAKE CITIES WORSE Carson is supporting U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., for re-election. In a post on X earlier this month, Carson declared that Graham “has been a steadfast conservative leader for South Carolina and our nation and I’m pleased to endorse him for re-election.” DR. BEN CARSON’S EDUCATION PROGRAM TEACHES THE ‘GOOD, BAD, AND UGLY’ OF AMERICA, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE GOOD CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Carson was one of the people who spoke at the memorial service honoring slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Arizona on Sunday.
Top 5 moments from Charlie Kirk’s memorial service in Arizona
Grief mingled with resolve Sunday afternoon as friends, family and conservative heavyweights gathered at a packed State Farm Stadium in Arizona to honor the life of Charlie Kirk. From emotional tributes to playful stories, to spiritual calls and political pledges, here are the top moments from his memorial service: President Donald Trump concluded Kirk’s memorial service with remarks honoring the Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder, intertwining themes of politics and Christianity. “Our greatest evangelist for American liberty became immortal,” Trump said of Kirk. “He’s a martyr for American freedom,” The president credited Kirk for helping him win the 2024 election by inspiring young voters across the country. TRUMP HONORS CHARLIE KIRK’S LEGACY AND DESCRIBES HIM AS A ‘MARTYR FOR AMERICAN FREEDOM’ Trump also described the moment when his staff told him that Kirk was shot during a TPUSA event. He said that he was in the middle of a meeting in the Oval Office and called the revelation “surreal.” “He didn’t deserve this and our country didn’t deserve this,” Trump said, adding that Kirk’s assassination was an attack on American democracy. Trump has survived two assassination attempts. The president said he would soon honor Kirk at the White House with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Following his remarks, he shared the stage with Kirk’s widow, Erika, and hugged her while “America the Beautiful” played across the stadium. Kirk’s widow, Erika, received a standing ovation ahead of her speech honoring her late husband’s legacy. She evoked scripture during her remarks and referred to her husband as “my Charlie” and his death as a “total surrender” to “God’s will.” As she wiped away tears, Kirk shared with the crowd what she experienced in the hours following his death. “I saw the wound that ended his life,” Kirk said, adding that she experienced “a level of heartache that I didn’t even know existed.” ERIKA KIRK FORGIVES HUSBAND’S KILLER AT MEMORIAL SERVICE: ‘IT’S WHAT CHARLIE WOULD DO’ Kirk, who was tapped to lead TPUSA, said her husband’s death has sparked a revival in faith. She galvanized the audience to go to church and to reconnect with Christ. “Being a follower of Christ is not easy, it’s not supposed to be,” Kirk said, adding that she forgives the man who took her husband’s life. “I forgive him because that is what Christ did,” she said behind heavy tears. Kirk, who is a mother of two young children, said she will miss her husband. “I will miss him because our marriage and our family were beautiful,” she said, adding, “and it still is.” In addition to TPUSA executives, conservative media giants and religious leaders, Kirk’s memorial service also included tributes from several high-ranking Trump administration officials. Vice President JD Vance credited Kirk, in part, for his current role in the Trump administration and vowed to support the TPUSA movement. “You ran a good race, my friend, I love you,” Vance said. “We’ve got it from here.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were among some of Trump’s Cabinet that spoke at the memorial service. COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CHARLIE KIRK Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Deputy Director of the FBI Dan Bongino, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and Kelly Loeffler, head of the Small Business Administration, also were in attendance. Additionally, billionaire Tesla and Space X CEO Elon Musk was seen sitting next to Trump during part of the memorial service. Christian author Frank Turek recounted witnessing Kirk’s final moments on the way to the hospital after the Sept. 10 shooting at Utah Valley University. “Charlie’s been like a son to me,” he said, noting that he was only a few feet away when Kirk was assassinated. Turek described running with the security team toward the SUV. CHRISTIAN AUTHOR FRANK TUREK DESCRIBES BEING 25 FEET AWAY WHEN CHARLIE KIRK WAS SHOT: ‘LIKE A SON TO ME’ “No father would stand back and go, no, you just take my son. Take him. I’ll meet you at the hospital. I got into the back of the SUV,” he said. “Charlie’s so tall, we can’t close the door,” Turek explained, adding that the TPUSA security team drove “all the way to the hospital with the door open.” He said that during the car ride he kept yelling, “Come on, Charlie! Come on! Come on!” He said that he was looking down at Kirk when he realized that the 31-year-old husband and father had died. “His eyes were fixed,” Turek said. “He wasn’t looking at me. He was looking past me right into eternity. He was with Jesus already. He was killed instantly and felt absolutely no pain.” Approximately 90,000 people gathered for Kirk’s memorial service, TPUSA confirmed to Fox News Digital. About 70,000 mourners filled State Farm Stadium to capacity, while another 10,000 joined from overflow venues, including Desert Diamond Arena and other nearby viewing points. The turnout marked one of the largest public memorial services in recent years. Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton and Sophia Compton contributed to this report.
Trump must make UN funding conditional on real reforms, ex-diplomat urges
As world leaders gather at the United Nations next week, former U.S. diplomat Hugh Dugan is urging Washington to demand accountability. “We need to see an organization that is effective and efficient, or we need to move on,” Dugan, who advised 11 U.S. ambassadors to the UN and served as President Donald Trump’s envoy for hostage affairs in the first administration, told Fox News Digital. The U.S. provides between 20 and 30 percent of the U.N.’s budget, and going forward, U.S. taxpayer dollars for the international body should be “conditional” on progress, Dugan said. “We are the host country. We were an architect of the U.N. So, yes, I believe that the president is going to come with a conditional mindset,” he added. THE UN IS A STAGE FOR HYPOCRISY: IT’S TIME FOR DEMOCRACIES TO EXIT The biggest hope for change, according to Dugan, is next year’s secretary-general election. “Members have to develop the correct expectations and communicate those to the field of candidates over the next several months, so that we can understand where the organization could go in the future,” he said. The most immediate diplomatic value of this year’s assembly, Dugan noted, will be the conversations on the sidelines. “That’s the power of the U.N., where they enable people to talk with each other without expectations from the public.” That said, he does not believe the gathering will resolve the world’s most pressing conflicts — from the war in Ukraine to Israel’s offensive in Gaza. “It has had plenty of opportunity. It hasn’t risen to the occasion,” Dugan said. The U.N. must begin offering a “report to shareholders” — a yearly breakdown of where money went and what change it produced, according to Dugan. UN BLASTED FOR FUNDING COMMITTEE ‘CREATED TO DESTROY THE JEWISH STATE,’ DESPITE BUDGET CRISIS Beyond reform, Dugan warned that the U.S. cannot afford to ignore China’s growing influence inside the United Nations system. He said Beijing has been steadily building up its diplomatic “bench” and mastering the rules of multilateral diplomacy. “China is investing in its diplomatic talent from the ground up, and they are going to master the multilateral game relatively soon,” he said. “We need to invest in our own skill set — a thicker bench that understands this place — and beat China on fair ground.” Dugan cautioned that while the U.S. debates how much to spend, Beijing is positioning itself to shape the agenda in ways that could sideline human rights and tilt the institution toward authoritarian priorities. As Trump prepares to address the General Assembly, Dugan said the stakes are clear: the U.S. must demand that the U.N. prove its worth or risk ceding influence to rivals. “The single most important message,” Dugan argued, “is that the U.N. must perform if it wants continued American support. Otherwise, we’ll look elsewhere — and China will be all too ready to fill the void.”
Charlie Kirk honored by 90K in one of the largest memorials for a private citizen
Thousands gathered Sunday to pay tribute to Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk, whose memorial service drew one of the largest public turnouts for a private citizen. The organization told Fox News Digital that approximately 90,000 people attended the service, with roughly 70,000 bringing the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, to capacity. TRUMP HONORS CHARLIE KIRK’S LEGACY AND DESCRIBES HIM AS A ‘MARTYR FOR AMERICAN FREEDOM’ Another 10,000 people gathered at the nearby Desert Diamond Arena, a designated overflow venue, according to estimates provided by TPUSA. Additionally, another 10,000 people watched Kirk’s memorial service from nearby viewing areas. Taken together, the turnout underscored the event’s extraordinary scale. COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CHARLIE KIRK Earlier estimates provided by law enforcement officials placed the attendance number around 200,000. Headlined by political heavyweights, conservative media figures and religious leaders, the memorial service ranks as one of the largest public gatherings ever organized for a private citizen. The service for Kirk was broadcast across every major U.S. television network, according to White House Communications Director Steven Cheung. ERIKA KIRK FORGIVES HUSBAND’S KILLER AT MEMORIAL SERVICE: ‘IT’S WHAT CHARLIE WOULD DO’ And while memorials take many forms, from intimate ceremonies to massive public gatherings, Kirk’s service highlighted the unique intersection of politics, media and faith that defined his public life. Similar outpourings have marked the deaths of cultural icons before. Elvis Presley’s death in 1977, for instance, drew an estimated 80,000 people to the streets of Memphis for his funeral procession, though only a few hundred were admitted inside. In June 2016, approximately 14,000 people attended a service for legendary heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali in Louisville, Kentucky. Additionally, thousands more watched virtually via live streams. In 1968, two massive services were held for Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta, one at Ebenezer Baptist Church and then another at Morehouse College. And an estimated 150,000 people gathered to watch King’s funeral procession travel between the two locations, with more inside each venue. Kirk was assassinated Sept. 10 during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University. The gathering was the first stop on TPUSA’s planned American Comeback Tour. The charismatic Kirk, known for his signature debates on college campuses, was in the middle of taking open-mic questions from a crowd of thousands before a single shot ended his life. Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Kyle Rittenhouse took time off work to grieve killing of Charlie Kirk: ‘Meant a lot to me’
EXCLUSIVE: Kyle Rittenhouse spoke with Fox News Digital Sunday about his friendship with Charlie Kirk, a bond that began in 2021, as he attended the conservative activist’s massive memorial service at State Farm Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Rittenhouse — who first connected with Kirk while facing homicide charges that made him a political lightning rod — said he immediately took time off work to grieve the loss of the Turning Point USA founder. “When Charlie was assassinated, I was on my lunch break at work,” Rittenhouse told Fox News Digital Sunday morning. “I just got home to let my dog out. And I went on X, and the first video I saw was my friend being murdered.” PASTOR: CHARLIE KIRK’S GRAPHIC DEATH WAS ‘TRAUMATIC’ AS MANY AMERICANS RECONCILE WITH LOSS Rittenhouse added, “I took the rest of the day off work. I took the rest of the week off of work because Charlie meant a lot to me.” YOUTH LEADERS MOURN ‘THE GODFATHER OF CAMPUS CONSERVATISM’ CHARLIE KIRK FOLLOWING ASSASSINATION Kirk had been one of Rittenhouse’s most vocal supporters. He brought Rittenhouse on “The Charlie Kirk Show” multiple times and featured him at multiple events organized by Turning Point USA. In December 2021, during Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, Kirk told Rittenhouse he was “a hero to millions,” according to the Washington Post. In 2024, Kirk threatened legal action after protesters confronted Rittenhouse during an appearance at the University of Memphis, Newsweek reported. CHARLIE KIRK ANSWERED ‘HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED’ LESS THAN 3 MONTHS BEFORE KILLING Since being acquitted of all charges in the Kenosha, Wisconsin, shootings — where he shot three men during a 2020 Black Lives Matter riot, leaving two dead — Rittenhouse largely has kept a low profile. Rittenhouse is one of thousands attending the massive memorial service on Sunday for Kirk, who was fatally shot Sept. 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The public memorial service included speeches from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Erika Kirk says late husband’s death sparked ‘revival’ at Arizona memorial
Erika Kirk told a stadium packed with mourners in Arizona that her late husband’s death had sparked a “revival” across the country. “Instead, we saw what my husband always prayed he would see in this country. We saw revival,” she told the audience who had gathered Saturday to honor Charlie Kirk, who was tragically murdered on campus at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. “After Charlie’s assassination, we didn’t see violence. We didn’t see rioting. We didn’t see revolution,” she added, during her poignant speech. ERIKA KIRK, AHEAD OF MEMORIAL SERVICE, INSPIRES CHRISTIAN STAFFER TO REMAIN ‘ROOTED IN FAITH’ After a string of other high-profile speakers, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance, the mother of two received a standing ovation as soon as she set foot on stage. Erika Kirk even recalled the painful moment at the hospital after seeing that her husband had been shot. “I saw the wound that ended his life,” she said. “I felt shock. I felt horror and a level of heartache I didn’t even know existed,” she added. But as Charlie Kirk’s death sent shockwaves across the nation and drew condolences from around the world, Erika Kirk insisted the tragedy had stirred a spiritual renewal. WHITE HOUSE RELEASES VIDEO TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE KIRK “This past week, we saw people open a Bible for the first time in a decade. We saw people pray for the first time since they were children. We saw people go to a church service for the first time in their entire lives,” she said. Erika also urged believers to take responsibility for nurturing this moment. “All of you who are already believers, it is your job to shepherd these people. Do not take that lightly. Water the seed of their faith. Protect it and help it grow,” she said. She closed by honoring Kirk’s dedication. “He left this world without regrets,” she said. “He did 100% of what he could every day. But I want you to know something. Charlie died with incomplete work, but not with unfinished business. And I will miss him.”
Charlie Kirk’s widow recalls Usha Vance’s support in aftermath of his death: ‘Exactly what I needed to hear’
At Sunday’s memorial service for Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, his widow, Erika Kirk, shared a moment of comfort she received from second lady Usha Vance in the immediate aftermath of his assassination, calling her a “precious woman.” Erika Kirk explained how she had confided in Vance about how she did not know how she could endure the loss of her husband and the father of their two children. Vance offered an analogy about the final 15 minutes of a turbulent airplane ride, when all a parent can think about is getting through to the landing. TRUMP TO HONOR CHARLIE KIRK AT ARIZONA MEMORIAL, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG CONSERVATIVES EXPECTED TO ATTEND The second lady “told me, you will get through these 15 minutes and the next 15 minutes after that,” Erika Kirk described. “Usha, I don’t think you realized it then, but those words were exactly what I needed to hear.” Vice President JD Vance also addressed the packed crowd at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, earlier in the evening, delivering a stirring tribute to his close friend. “They tried to silence our dear friend Charlie Kirk,” JD Vance said. “And tonight, we speak with Charlie and for Charlie, louder than ever.” JD VANCE BLAMES KIRK ASSASSINATION ON ‘LEFT-WING POLITICAL RADICALIZATION’ OF SHOOTER The vice president praised Charlie Kirk’s unwavering defense of the family and traditional values as the foundation of a thriving society. “Charlie brought the truth that young people deserve to stake (in) the future, and that they deserve to have a voice,” JD Vance said. But JD Vance stressed that Charlie Kirk’s true legacy was not just in what he said publicly, but in the life he lived daily. VANCE SAYS HE OWES ‘SO MUCH’ TO CHARLIE KIRK WHILE GUEST-HOSTING SHOW, PRAISES ‘VISIONARY’ CONSERVATIVE LEADER “Charlie, he did so much more than tell the truth. He lived it,” JD Vance remarked, adding that the conservative activist’s passion for history and ideas gave him a vision for America’s future. “In this he showed all of us how to carry on after his death,” the vice president concluded. Charlie Kirk was a close confidant of JD Vance’s, both personally and politically. The Turning Point USA founder was considered by JD Vance to have been pivotal in President Donald Trump’s decision to choose him as a running mate in the 2024 election. Following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, JD Vance and Usha Vance accompanied Erika Kirk aboard Air Force Two to return his casket to Arizona. In Salt Lake City, the vice president walked alongside the flag-draped casket of his friend as it was carried across the tarmac. JD Vance also filled in for his “dear friend” on “The Charlie Kirk Show” where he similarly expressed his thoughts about his assassination.
Trump honors Charlie Kirk’s legacy and describes him as a ‘martyr for American freedom’
President Donald Trump praised Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s legacy Sunday, calling him a “martyr for American freedom.” “I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie Kirk, and neither will history,” Trump said to the tens of thousands of supporters gathered to celebrate the life of Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CHARLIE KIRK Trump spoke of Kirk’s passion for mobilizing young conservatives, his unwavering devotion to the country and the movement he leaves behind. The president described Kirk as a “missionary with a noble spirit,” saying the 31-year-old conservative activist played a decisive role in helping him win the 2024 election. “He didn’t deserve this and our country didn’t deserve this,” Trump said, adding that Kirk’s assassination was an attack on American democracy. Trump has survived two assassination attempts. The president also said he would honor Kirk at the White House by presenting his family with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. LIVE UPDATES: MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR CHARLIE KIRK Trump’s speech, which also highlighted his administration’s core priorities, followed those of Kirk’s widow, Erika, and several high-ranking members of his administration. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were among some of Trump’s Cabinet that spoke at the memorial service. At the end of his speech, Trump shared the stage with Erika Kirk and hugged her as “God Bless America” played across the stadium, marking the conclusion of the memorial service. ERIKA KIRK FORGIVES HUSBAND’S KILLER AT MEMORIAL SERVICE: ‘IT’S WHAT CHARLIE WOULD DO’ Kirk was assassinated Sept. 10 during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University. The gathering was the first stop on TPUSA’s planned American Comeback Tour. The charismatic Kirk, known for his signature debates on college campuses, sat beneath a white tent emblazoned with the slogan “Prove Me Wrong,” taking open-mic questions from a crowd of thousands. Moments later, a single shot ended his life. In the wake of his death, many Americans have been learning for the first time of the unlikely rise of the young activist who vaulted from obscurity in suburban Illinois to become a defining voice for a generation of conservatives and one of the movement’s most formidable power brokers. ‘THIS IS THE TURNING POINT:’ TPUSA SAYS CAMPUS CHAPTER REQUESTS SURGE AFTER KIRK’S ASSASSINATION At 18, Kirk dropped out of community college to co-found TPUSA. By his mid-20s, he became the youngest speaker at the Republican National Convention in 2016 and a household name in conservative circles. By 31, he commanded a $95 million political empire, galvanized millions of followers online and established a direct line to Trump. His widow, Erika, has vowed to carry on the energetic movement that indisputably reshaped conservative youth politics. TPUSA recently announced she would assume the roles of CEO and chair of the board. Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” said TPUSA has received more than 62,000 requests to establish new campus chapters in the two weeks since Kirk’s assassination — a surge that would add to its existing network of 900 nationwide. “For all the fans of ‘The Charlie Kirk Show,’ we will see you Monday,” Kolvet said during his remarks at the memorial service. “Until then, buckle up — here we go,” he added, vowing to continue Kirk’s mission. Last week, Kolvet told Fox News Digital that he has “personally received hundreds of offers to work” for TPUSA.