Dem Senate hopeful calls for civility, despite past warning of ‘radicalized White men’
FIRST ON FOX: A Democratic hopeful running for U.S. Senate is building a brand of civility in politics, but four years ago he argued that “radicalized White men” were the nation’s greatest domestic terrorist threat. Texas state Rep. Jame Talarico, D-Texas, threw his hat into the Democratic primary in the Lone Star State to run against former Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas. Talarico launched his campaign earlier this month with a message that he wanted to restore unity and quiet the divisive noise that comes from social media and cable news. Both are vying for the Democratic nomination to run for Sen. John Cornyn’s, R-Texas, seat. Cornyn is currently engaged in a tough primary challenge against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. RISING DEMOCRAT STAR JAMES TALARICO JUMPS INTO KEY SENATE RACE IN TEXAS In the wake of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Talarico condemned his murder and, despite a wide difference in their politics, said he found a middle ground in their shared faith. “I am tired of being pitted against my neighbor,” Talarico said in the hours following the news of Kirk’s death. “I am tired of being told to hate my neighbor. People across the political spectrum in this state and in this country are hungry for a different kind of politics, not a politics of fear, not a politics of hate, not a politics of violence, but a politics of love, a love that can heal what’s broken in this country.” But four years earlier, he was using fiery rhetoric online. “Black Americans in a church. Mexican Americans in a store. Asian Americans in a spa,” Talarico said. “Radicalized White men are the greatest domestic terrorist threat in our country,” he continued. TOP GOP SENATOR REVEALS HE’S CLOSING GAP IN HEATED PRIMARY AMID OPPONENT’S ALLEGED AFFAIR SCANDAL Talarico’s post that day was in response to a mass shooting at three spas in Atlanta on March 16, 2021, by suspect Robert Aaron Long that left eight people dead. He went on to write in the same thread, “As a White man, I’m susceptible to the same radicalization,” and he said he planned to draft and file diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) legislation in the Texas legislature. Joanna Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), charged that “in the last few years, Democrat James Talarico has falsely accused Republicans of trying to create an ‘authoritarian, Christian Nationalist state’ and a ‘Christofascist theocracy.’” “He is one of many extremist, far-left Democrats that will vilify Republicans at any cost because it gets him praise from the woke mob and Texas voters will never elect him to statewide office because of it,” she said in a statement to Fox News Digital. JT Ennis, a campaign spokesperson for Talarico, fired back, “For years, James has called out the billionaire-run algorithms that often radicalize young men in dark corners of the internet.” TEXAS DEMOCRAT WHO LOST TO TED CRUZ 8 MONTHS AGO JUMPS INTO 2026 SENATE RACE “As a young man himself, James feels a responsibility to speak out against this for-profit rage economy that’s destroying our youth — recently addressing this crisis in his widely circulated comments calling for a politics of love in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination,” he said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “That’s how we turn down the temperature.” There are other instances in that same year when Talarico used fiery rhetoric against prominent Texas politicians, notably Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas. On Jan. 6, 2021, Talarico posted, “You sacrificed your country for your ambition. You’re not a senator, you’re a traitor,” in response to Cruz’s calls for people “storming the Capitol” to stop. And on Nov. 19, 2021, Talarico blasted Abbott for celebrating Kyle Rittenhouse’s not guilty verdict after being charged for fatally shooting two people during a night of civil unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. “Are you our governor or a white supremacist troll?” he asked at the time. Ennis also defended Talarico’s rhetoric in those moments. “Texans need leaders who fight for their principles — like calling out those who promote insurrection and violence — while also working across the aisle to deliver bipartisan legislation that gets things done for working people,” he said. “James is that kind of leader.”
Education chief urges colleges to punish faculty who cheered Charlie Kirk’s death
EXCLUSIVE: More faculty members on college campuses who have celebrated the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk should be penalized, according to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. McMahon’s comments come as tributes to Kirk on campuses have been defaced, and as higher education institutions have dropped employees for controversial statements regarding Kirk’s death. “I’ve seen some of those college presidents who have fired or suspended teachers or other faculty members that have spoken out really incredibly poorly and celebrated Charlie’s death — I would like to see more of that, quite frankly,” McMahon told Fox News Digital Thursday in Washington at the Reagan Institute Summit on Education. 58 HOUSE DEMS VOTE AGAINST RESOLUTION HONORING ‘LIFE AND LEGACY’ OF CHARLIE KIRK For example, Fox News Digital first reported that an administrator at George Washington University is no longer employed by the school after posting on social media “no thoughts, no prayers” following Kirk’s death. Likewise, Fox News Digital reported that students at the University of North Carolina Wilmington painted over a rock Tuesday that Kirk supporters had crafted to honor his memory. The rock on campus is typically painted to promote various movements or causes on campus, Reagan Faulkner, president of UNCW’s chapter of College Republicans, told Fox News Digital. “That is really, in and of itself, is a crime of personal integrity, when those kinds of things happen,” McMahon said about ruined tributes to Kirk on campuses. Kirk, 31, was killed after suffering a gunshot wound in the neck during his “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University Sept. 10. The shooting suspect, Tyler Robinson, was charged Monday with aggravated murder, along with other charges. SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR WHO CALLED KIRK’S ASSASSINATION ‘FAIR’ NO LONGER EMPLOYED The assassination comes a year after two attempts to take the president’s life. Meanwhile, McMahon said that Kirk’s death will prompt greater appreciation around the country for civil discourse — even among those with differing opinions. “Charlie’s legacy is going to be more and more people are going to understand how important civil dialogue is, and freedom of speech on campuses around the country,” McMahon said. “Charlie was a very forthright speaker about his faith, about his beliefs, about his principles. He didn’t shy away from challenging people who had different beliefs, but not in a way to to be an affront to them, but a way to ask them to share why they believe what they believed, and he would share why he believed what he believed.” CELEBRATORY, DISMISSIVE REACTIONS TO CHARLIE KIRK’S DEATH PUTTING EDUCATORS UNDER SCRUTINY “And I think that that’s going to be a great part of his legacy that will live on,” McMahon said. “And I think we’ve opened many more doors and many more opportunities for that civil discourse with the incredibly unfortunate and sad tragedy of his assassination.” Meanwhile, the Trump administration has vowed to take action against those who have cheered for Kirk’s death on social media, and cast blame on the “radical left” for recent political violence. “The radical left has done tremendous damage to the country,” Trump told reporters Tuesday. “But we’re fixing it.” Fox News’ Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
Charlie Kirk vote splits Democrats, prompting hypocrisy outcry from House GOP: ‘Americans won’t forget’
Republican lawmakers are accusing Democrats of playing politics over a resolution honoring the “life and legacy” of Charlie Kirk, which passed the House along bipartisan lines last week. The Friday vote split Democrats – 95 voted to approve the measure, 58 voted in opposition, 38 voted “present” and 22 did not vote. House Republicans have been hammering those 58, and several pointed out the fractured vote was much different from an earlier resolution condemning an attack on state lawmakers from Minnesota who were shot earlier this year. That resolution passed the House in a unanimous 424-0 vote in late June. HOUSE PASSES TRUMP-BACKED PLAN TO AVERT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN “In June, House Republicans voted unanimously to condemn the attacks on Democratic Minnesota lawmakers,” Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., wrote on X late Sunday. “Last week, not even half of House Democrats voted to condemn the assassination of Charlie Kirk.” Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., recounted the tragedy in Minnesota with more detail, writing in a statement, “When Minnesota Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were murdered, and State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were wounded, the U.S. House unanimously passed a resolution condemning the attack and political violence.” “But after Charlie Kirk was assassinated, 58 Democrats voted against denouncing political violence,” Mace wrote. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., said he believed the decision by dozens of Democrats to oppose the measure would reflect negatively on the party as a whole in the coming midterm elections. “58 House Democrats refused to condemn the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Every House Republican voted to condemn the attack against the Democrat lawmakers in Minnesota. This is why Democrats continue to lose,” Steube wrote on X. “Americans won’t forget in 2026.” Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., also criticized those who voted “present.” “Every single House Republican voted to condemn the murders in Minnesota. Meanwhile, 58 House Democrats refused to condemn the murder of Charlie Kirk. Another 38 put their hands in their pockets. Those 96 need to be held accountable,” Fine wrote. The Minnesota resolution condemned “the June 14, 2025, attacks on Minnesota state legislators” and called “on all people in the United States to reaffirm our commitment to a safe, civil, and peaceful democracy.” The resolution honored “the lives of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman, who were killed, Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette Hoffman, who were critically injured, and the law enforcement officers who rapidly responded to the attacks and apprehended the suspected perpetrator.” GOP GOVERNOR NOMINEE PUSHES REDISTRICTING TO OUST STATE’S LONE HOUSE DEM Republicans’ measure memorializing Kirk went into comparatively more detail on the slain conservative activist as a person, lauding him as “one of the most prominent voices in America, engaging in respectful, civil discourse across college campuses, media platforms and national forums, always seeking to elevate truth, foster understanding and strengthen the Republic.” It also said Kirk “personified the values of the First Amendment…and did so with honor, courage, and respect for his fellow Americans,” while calling on all Americans to condemn political violence. Several Democrats who opposed the measure said they were uncomfortable with its praise of Kirk. “Political violence should never be tolerated. However, empathy is not celebration, and I do not have to call Charlie Kirk a hero. He was no such thing. He repeatedly disparaged minorities, especially Black Americans,” Rep. Shri Thandear, D-Mich., wrote on X Friday. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said in a written statement, “Condemning the depravity of Kirk’s brutal murder is a straightforward matter – one that is especially important to help stabilize an increasingly unsafe and volatile political environment where everyday people feel at risk.” “It then only underscores the majority’s recklessness and intent to divide by choosing to introduce this resolution on a purely partisan basis, instead of uniting Congress in this tragedy with one of the many bipartisan options to condemn political violence and Kirk’s murder, as we did with the late Melissa Hortman,” she continued. “His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant and sought to disenfranchise millions of Americans – far from ‘working tirelessly to promote unity’ as asserted by the majority in this resolution.”
Democrats skip Charlie Kirk Arizona memorial after 58 vote against House resolution
The Dems’ disdain for Charlie Kirk showed, even on the day of his memorial. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, slammed others in her party for not opposing the resolution honoring him, saying it “hurt [her] heart” that only two White Democrats voted no. She claimed Kirk’s rhetoric targeted people of color. In total, 58 House Dems voted against it. President Trump fired back: “It tells you that they’re deranged.” THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GAMBITS TO AVOID A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS Despite calls to deescalate, Dems still labeled Trump a fascist and skipped Kirk’s memorial in Arizona, and only six attended the earlier Capitol vigil. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who are among Kirk’s harshest critics, also didn’t hold back. Omar claimed Kirk’s legacy belongs “in the dustbin of history.” REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: CONGRESS FAILS TO LOWER POLITICAL TEMPERATURE AFTER CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION Ocasio-Cortez previously called Kirk’s views “ignorant [and] uneducated.” At the memorial, former Trump administration official Ben Carson appeared to fire back: “I’ve seen him run circles around people with college degrees.”
Trump assassination attempt suspect Ryan Routh to defend himself as prosecution rests case
The prosecution rested its case in the federal trial of Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club in 2024. Beginning Monday, Routh — who is representing himself — is expected to begin his defense by calling three witnesses to the stand. On Friday, the government’s final witness, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Kimberly McGreevy, walked jurors through phone data, license plate records, bank transactions and surveillance footage that prosecutors say tie Routh to Trump’s movements in the weeks before the alleged attempt. PROSECUTORS TO REST CASE IN TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT TRIAL, DEFENSE PREPS WITNESSES McGreevy testified that Routh’s “home base” between Aug. 14 and Sept. 15, 2024, was the Marathon truck stop in South Bay, Florida, where receipts showed he paid cash for overnight parking. Body-cam footage from a welfare check at the truck stop showed Routh wearing madras shorts later found in his Nissan Xterra and seen in airport surveillance on Sept. 7, when he was recorded watching Trump’s plane lift off. Jurors also saw evidence of extensive online searches and surveillance. Reports from Routh’s phones included searches for Trump’s campaign schedule, rally tickets, and golf course properties, as well as live airport feeds and plane-tracking websites. One exchange presented to the jury included an aerial image of Trump’s plane. A contact named Vladmir texted, “Palm Beach, yours?” and Routh responded, “Trump’s plane. He gets on and off every day.” EXPLOSIVES EXPERT DETAILS DEVICES AS TRUMP ASSASSINATION TRIAL NEARS CLOSE Financial records presented showed large deposits and transfers through accounts in Routh’s daughter Sara’s name, some of which were then moved to Routh. Text messages and PayPal activity also reflected exchanges around money transfers, including a March 29, 2024 message to his son Oran: “Got a real phone… in West Palm Beach… Can you Western Union the rest of the money….” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Prosecutors ended their case Friday after introducing dozens of witnesses, including Secret Service agents, FBI experts and former associates. Starting Monday, the jury will hear from Routh’s defense, which is expected to include a firearms expert and character witnesses.
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.”