President Donald Trump on Sept. 21 eulogized Charlie Kirk, saying that the Turning Point USA founder was murdered “for speaking the truth that was in his heart.”
Trump was among the few speakers at the event on Sept. 21 to make reference to the suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson, whom the president described as a “radicalized, cold-blooded monster.”
Kirk was also “violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice, for God, country, for reason, and for common sense,” Trump said.
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, senior White House officials, and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old activist—to an Arizona stadium.
The president’s remarks came just minutes after Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, said she forgave the suspect, suggesting that he was one of the “lost boys” in the United States.
“Charlie passionately wanted to reach and save the lost boys of the West. The young men who feel like they have no direction, no purpose, no faith, and no reason to live. The men wasting their lives on distractions and the men consumed with resentment, anger, and hate,” Erika Kirk said.
“Charlie wanted to help them. He wanted them to have a home with Turning Point USA. And when he went on to [a] campus, he was looking to show them a better path and a better life that was right there for the taking. He wanted to show them that.”
The service was held at State Farm Stadium, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, located west of Phoenix, where Kirk’s Turning Point organization is based. Security was tight, with a similar level of federal law enforcement presence as for the Super Bowl or other high-profile events.
Members of the public began lining up outside the stadium before dawn to secure a spot, and the 63,400-seat stadium quickly filled with people dressed in red, white, and blue, as organizers suggested.
Scheduled speakers at the service included Trump, Vance, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Others included Donald Trump Jr., conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, White House aide Stephen Miller, and Erika Kirk.
“You thought you could kill Charlie Kirk? You have made him immortal,” Miller told the crowd. “You 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.”
Gabbard said: “Charlie lived what our Founders envisioned. Freedom: The right to speak even when we disagree. … I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight to defend it to the death with my very life. Free speech is the foundation of our democratic republic. We must protect it at all costs because without it, we’ll be lost.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on X that he was among the tens of thousands of people who gathered at the State Farm Stadium for Kirk. He posted a video of the crowded stadium on the platform.
“Every seat in this giant arena that isn’t roped off for security is packed to the ceiling,” Musk said. “Honored to be here.”
Kirk was shot and killed while hosting a debate at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. Prosecutors and local law enforcement officials say Robinson shot Kirk from roughly 200 yards away.
Robinson was arrested about 33 hours after Kirk was killed. Officials have not provided a motive in the case but have noted that he had moved to the left politically, expressed pro-transgender views, and also expressed disdainful comments about Kirk to family members in the days leading up to the assassination.
Also on Sept. 21, FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X that the bureau is “meticulously investigating theories and questions,” including on the location of the shot, text messages, the angle of the shot, the weapon, and a Discord chat allegedly used by the suspect, among other details.
“Some details are known today, while others are still being pursued to ensure every possibility is considered,” Patel said in his post, amid online speculation about Kirk’s death. “Our primary focus is to complete this investigation and deliver justice. To protect the integrity of the investigation and subsequent prosecution, we cannot release every piece of information we have to the public right now.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
