President Donald Trump will lead mourners at the funeral of Charlie Kirk today, addressing tens of thousands expected to gather inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, for a memorial service that has been granted the highest level of federal security designation.
Lines of mourners began forming before sunrise outside the 63,000-seat venue, with police expecting crowds potentially reaching 100,000 people for the conservative firebrand who was assassinated at Utah Valley University on September 10. The Department of Homeland Security has designated the service a SEAR Level 1 event, reserved for gatherings of the highest national significance.
Kirk’s widow, Erika, recalled her husband’s final moments in a poignant interview with the New York Times, describing how he “died happy” in hospital after the shooting that claimed his life.
“His eyes were semi-open. And he had this knowing, Mona Lisa-like half-smile. Like he’d died happy. Like Jesus rescued him. The bullet came, he blinked, and he was in heaven,” she told the newspaper.
The 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA was shot through the neck by a single rifle round fired from a rooftop approximately 140 yards away as he addressed around 3,000 people at an outdoor campus event. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, leaving behind his wife and two young children.
Extraordinary Security Measures
Security around State Farm Stadium has been described as “extraordinarily tight,” with measures comparable to those used during the Super Bowl. The Glendale Police Department has deployed several hundred additional officers, drone operators, and a high-tech real-time crime center to monitor the stadium perimeter, working alongside the US Secret Service.
It’s all hands on deck,” said Glendale police spokesperson Jose Santiago. “We get two years to plan for a Super Bowl, but here we have one week.”
The memorial poses an enormous test for law enforcement, particularly given the reason for the gathering – a fatal bullet intended to silence a political figure. Former Secret Service agent Jonathan Wackrow told CNN the location could be seen as “an attractive target for a hostile actor because of its visibility.”
A strict no-bag policy is in effect, with attendees who arrive with bags required to return them to vehicles and rejoin lines from the back. Firearms are prohibited for all attendees, including active law enforcement.
High-Profile Speakers and Performers
Trump will be joined on stage by Vice President J.D. Vance and senior members of his Cabinet, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
Kirk’s widow Erika will also deliver a eulogy, just days after it was announced she will succeed her late husband as CEO and chair of Turning Point USA following a unanimous board vote. In public remarks two days after the assassination, she vowed that “the movement my husband built will not die.”
The service will feature performances by Christian worship artists Chris Tomlin, Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, Kari Jobe Carnes and Cody Carnes, as well as Lee Greenwood and Steve Amerson. Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, White House advisor Stephen Miller and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles are also scheduled to speak.
The Assassination
Tyler James Robinson, 22, has been charged with aggravated murder in Kirk’s killing. According to prosecutors, Robinson sent text messages after the shooting saying “I had enough of his hatred.” Authorities say Robinson’s father recognised him from surveillance footage released by the FBI, leading to his arrest.
The shooting occurred as Kirk was answering a question from an audience member about mass shootings in the United States during Turning Point USA’s “American Comeback Tour” campus event. Robinson allegedly fired from the roof of the Losee Center building on campus using a Mauser Model 98 bolt-action rifle with a scope.
Prosecutor Jeff Gray stated that Robinson had “become increasingly concerned about gay and trans rights” and had grown apart from his family’s conservative views. Robinson’s roommate told investigators that Robinson had been planning the shooting for just over a week.
Political Impact
Kirk’s assassination has sent shockwaves through the conservative movement and marked another escalation in America’s increasingly violent political climate. It followed a series of violent incidents including assassination attempts on Trump himself in 2024.
“Charlie was very much a part of this family, and maybe the highest profile MAGA person outside of those that are working here,” White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said. “So, I think it shook everybody to their core.”
Trump has blamed the “radical left” for Kirk’s death and threatened to go after liberal organisations and donors. He criticised House Democrats who voted against a resolution praising Kirk’s life and legacy, which passed the Republican-controlled House on Friday.
A September 19 Associated Press poll found a surge in negative sentiment amongst Republican voters following Kirk’s assassination, with just 49% saying the country was headed in the right direction, down from 70% in June.
Kirk’s Legacy
Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 at age 18, dropping out of community college to pursue political activism full-time. The organisation grew into a powerhouse for mobilising young conservative voters, with Kirk credited by many as instrumental in Trump’s political success.
Vance has credited Kirk with introducing him to Donald Trump Jr. ahead of his 2022 Senate campaign and advocating for Trump to choose him as running mate. Kirk’s body was flown from Utah to Arizona aboard Air Force Two, with Vance personally accompanying the casket.
Kennedy called Kirk the “primary architect of my unification with President Trump,” referring to his decision to drop his independent presidential campaign and endorse Trump at a Turning Point Action rally.
Kirk was known for his provocative style and campus debates through his “Prove Me Wrong” events, though critics accused him of making racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant and transphobic statements. His supporters view such criticism as cherry-picking moments to insult an inspirational conservative leader.
Memorial Arrangements
The program begins at 11 a.m. local time (2 p.m. ET), with doors opening at 8 a.m. The memorial will be livestreamed via Kirk’s Rumble account and covered extensively by Fox News and other networks. Overflow space is available at the nearby Desert Diamond Arena for those unable to enter the stadium.
Turning Point USA has asked attendees to wear their “Sunday Best” in red, white or blue. Parking is free but limited, with carpooling recommended.
This service will be a unifying event focused on prayer, mourning, and celebrating the life, legacy, and memory of Charlie Kirk — a national treasure whose life was cut far too short,” said Arizona state Senator Jack Hoffman.
Kirk will be laid to rest in Phoenix, where Turning Point USA is headquartered and which he had adopted as his home after growing up outside Chicago.
Trump has announced plans to posthumously honour Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honour.
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