US President Donald Trump, along with senior members of his administration, will lead tributes at a large memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Arizona on Sunday. The event will take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, where thousands are expected to gather to honor the 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder who was shot dead earlier this month. Trump has described Kirk as a “martyr for truth and freedom,” praising his role in energizing young voters and supporting the president’s successful re-election campaign last year.
Kirk was fatally shot in the neck on September 10 while addressing students at a Utah university during one of his widely attended debate series. The attack sparked outrage across the political spectrum and led to a 33-hour manhunt before authorities arrested the 22-year-old suspect. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, and officials revealed that the alleged gunman claimed his actions were motivated by hatred toward Kirk’s views. The killing has deepened political divisions in the United States and fueled intense debate about political violence.
Read more : Kirk shooting reignites America’s free speech battle – Daily Times
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will join Trump in addressing the memorial, alongside other high-profile figures including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson is also scheduled to speak, while Erika Kirk, the activist’s widow, will take the stage as she assumes leadership of Turning Point USA. The stadium, with a capacity of 63,000, is expected to be filled with supporters and mourners.
Outside Turning Point USA’s Phoenix headquarters, hundreds of supporters have already gathered to pay respects with flowers, American flags, and patriotic displays. Many carried photos of Kirk with the slogan “Faith, Family, Freedom,” while attendees described him as a passionate leader whose influence reached millions through social media, podcasts, and campus events. “He was an amazing young man, who was taken away much too soon,” said one mourner, reflecting the grief felt by many of his followers.
In response to Kirk’s killing, the White House has pledged a crackdown on what it calls “domestic terrorism” by the political left. Trump announced plans to officially designate Antifa as a “major terrorist organization,” reviving a move he threatened in his first term. The government also moved against media figures critical of Kirk, including late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, whose show was abruptly suspended after controversial remarks. Critics warn these measures threaten free speech and risk silencing dissent, while supporters argue they are necessary to counter growing hostility against conservatives.