Prepared for up to 100,000 attendees, the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, the slain conservative activist, is set to take place on Sunday in Arizona. This notable event will see prominent figures such as former President Trump and key members of the administration in attendance.
Held at State Farm Stadium near Phoenix, this memorial comes nearly two weeks after Kirk’s tragic shooting at a speaking event in Utah. His untimely death has intensified political discourse and alarmed many, marking what some believe to be a perilous new chapter for American politics.
The lineup of speakers is impressive, featuring Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Additionally, Tucker Carlson, ex-Fox News host and now podcaster, will share his thoughts, alongside White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.
Erika Kirk, who is stepping in as the head of Turning Point USA, will address the attendees. She has promised to carry on her husband’s mission of mobilizing young conservatives through tours, podcasts, and various public engagements. “The movement my husband founded is far from over,” she proclaimed from Charlie’s podcast studio after his death. “My voice as a widow will resonate like a battle cry around the globe.”
The service, beginning at 11 a.m. local time, encourages attendees to dress in their finest colors of red, white, and blue and make donations to Turning Point USA instead of bringing flowers.
Tyler Robinson, 22, has been arrested as the suspect in Kirk’s death, facing serious charges, including aggravated murder and firearm offenses. He allegedly shot Kirk from a rooftop on the Utah campus, with prosecutors indicating they will pursue the death penalty.
According to Glendale Police, protests are also expected at the memorial. Officer Moroni Mendez emphasized, “People have the right to express their opinions, and we’ll ensure everyone’s safety.”
Security will be tight at the memorial, akin to measures taken at major national events. Recently, a person was detained after claiming to be an armed law-enforcement officer at State Farm Stadium. Turning Point USA’s spokesperson Andrew Kolvet revealed in a post on X that the individual purportedly had connections to a guest scheduled to attend the memorial.
Charlie Kirk, at just 31, became a recognizable face within the MAGA movement, earning praise from Trump for kindling support among younger generations and assisting in his return to office. Trump attributed Kirk’s murder to growing “radical left political violence,” sparking heightened tensions as conservatives called for accountability for corporate personnel who shared views they deemed inappropriate.
Amid these events, discussions around free speech escalated last week, highlighted by Disney’s decisive action to pull Jimmy Kimmel’s show from its ABC lineup over his commentary on the situation surrounding Kirk’s death. Kimmel had remarked, “The MAGA gang tragically attempted to shift the narrative around the individual who murdered Charlie Kirk.” Meanwhile, a representative from Kimmel’s team stated they would have no further comment.
For more insights, reach out to Jack Morphet at jack.morphet@wsj.com
