GLENDALE, Arizona (Reuters) – Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday hailed slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a “martyr for American freedom” and vowed to carry forward his work, while blaming the “radical left” for Kirk’s killing.
Speaking before tens of thousands at State Farm Stadium during a memorial organized by Kirk’s youth movement Turning Point USA, Trump mixed tribute with campaign-style rhetoric, accusing political opponents of fueling violence. Kirk’s wife, Erika, who has taken leadership of Turning Point, delivered an emotional eulogy, stressing his faith, family devotion, and activism, while forgiving his alleged killer. Vice President JD Vance and senior cabinet members also addressed the gathering, underscoring Kirk’s role in mobilizing young voters for Trump’s 2024 victory. Kirk, 31, was shot dead earlier this month during a campus event in Utah, a killing that has intensified fears of escalating political violence across the United States.
Tens of thousands packed State Farm Stadium — home to the Arizona Cardinals — in what looked as much like a “Make America Great Again” rally as a memorial service. Attendees, many draped in red, white, and blue, sang along with Christian rock bands, raised their hands in prayer, and wept as tributes poured in for Kirk, who founded the conservative youth group Turning Point USA.
Trump called Kirk a “martyr for American freedom,” before pivoting to partisan attacks. “The violence comes largely from the left,” he claimed, despite investigators still probing the motive. At one point, he admitted a key difference between himself and Kirk: “He did not hate his opponents. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponents.”
Erika Kirk, now leading Turning Point, delivered a tearful tribute to her husband, forgiving his accused killer and stressing Kirk’s devotion to faith and family. “Charlie left this world without regrets,” she said, to solemn applause.
High-profile figures including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke, highlighting Kirk’s influence in mobilizing young voters and shaping Trump’s return to the White House. “We wouldn’t be here without him,” Vance said.
But the service also carried ominous tones. Former Trump adviser Stephen Miller warned, “You have no idea the dragon you have awakened,” framing Kirk’s death as a rallying cry for conservatives. Civil rights groups, meanwhile, pointed to Kirk’s divisive record, noting years of anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.
Kirk’s death — he was shot by a 22-year-old student during a campus event — has reignited fears of escalating political violence in America. Yet, Trump’s combative tone at the memorial raised further alarm that instead of cooling tensions, the conservative movement may be hardening its battle lines.