Tens of thousands of supporters gathered in Arizona on Sunday for a memorial service honoring slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, where U.S. President Donald Trump described the 31-year-old as “a martyr for American freedom.”
Kirk, a prominent conservative figure, was killed on September 10 during an incident at a Utah university campus. His death has galvanized his supporters, who turned the stadium event—attended by nearly 65,000 people—into both a political rally and a religious revival.
Trump Leads Tributes
Taking the stage as the final speaker, Trump praised Kirk as a patriot whose legacy would endure. The crowd, clad in red, white, and blue, erupted into chants of “USA! USA! USA!” while Christian rock bands played between speeches.
“I look at him as a Christ martyr, definitely,” said Monica Mirelez, a 44-year-old nurse who drove 12 hours from Texas to attend. She recalled watching Kirk’s daily Instagram videos, describing him as “a perfect example of how Christians should be bold and speak up.”
Voices from the Crowd
Others echoed similar sentiments. Nick Chisholm, a 15-year-old student, expressed outrage at peers who mocked Kirk’s death: “Whatever he said, he didn’t deserve to be killed for speaking his opinion and beliefs.”
Top Trump adviser Stephen Miller told the audience that Kirk’s killing had “awakened a dragon” and vowed conservatives would fight harder to “save this civilization.”
Welsley Inglis, a 61-year-old engineer from California, linked the violence to Democrats, accusing them of promoting cultural decay: “They’re the ones pushing gender confusion. Charlie was bringing youth back to the church, changing their minds.”
Forgiveness and Defiance
Despite fiery rhetoric, some urged reconciliation. Jeremy Schlotman, 21, a Catholic and member of Kirk’s Turning Point USA, said he forgave the alleged killer—echoing remarks by Kirk’s widow, Erika, who also addressed the crowd.
“Kill one, and a thousand more will rise,” Schlotman said. “The shooter just created a generation of new Charlies. We’re all Charlie Kirk now.”
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