Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and one of the most prominent conservative activists in the United States, was shot dead on 10 September 2025 while speaking at Utah Valley University. On Sunday, more than 50,000 people gathered at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona to pay their respects. The public memorial turned into a political spectacle: Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, senior administration officials and conservative commentators described Kirk as a “martyr” and a “warrior” for the movement. As reported by The WP Times citing Renewz.de.

Trump and Vance present Kirk as a hero

In a 25-minute speech, Donald Trump declared Kirk “immortal” and “our greatest evangelist for American liberty”. He reminded the crowd that Kirk had founded Turning Point USA at the age of 18, an organisation now active on more than 3,000 US campuses. JD Vance, who escorted Kirk’s coffin on Air Force Two back to Arizona, called him a “hero of the United States” and a “martyr for the Christian faith”. The audience repeatedly rose to its feet, delivering standing ovations and chanting MAGA slogans, turning grief into a demonstration of political power.

Religion, pathos and politics intertwined

The ceremony began with hours of Christian worship music, filling the stadium with an almost revival-like atmosphere. Attendees prayed with raised hands, some in tears, others cheering. Then the political voices took over. Stephen Miller, a senior White House adviser, spoke of a “fire in our hearts” ignited by Kirk’s death. Trump hailed Turning Point USA as a “political juggernaut” that would become “bigger and more powerful than ever before”. Almost the entire Cabinet sat in the front row, while Trump and Vance observed from behind bulletproof glass – a potent symbol of both threat and authority.

Erika Kirk forgives the alleged killer

The most emotional moment came from Erika Kirk, the widow of the slain activist. She described how she saw her husband’s body after the shooting: “a faint smile, without fear, without pain”. Fighting back tears, she declared: “I forgive that young man.” The alleged gunman, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, faces charges of murder and multiple weapons offences. Erika Kirk also announced that she would assume leadership of Turning Point USA: “No assassin will ever silence us from defending our rights.” The crowd responded with prolonged standing ovations, underscoring how her words framed forgiveness as defiance.

Political messaging amid mourning

Trump’s closing remarks revealed how closely mourning and campaigning are intertwined. He described Kirk as a “missionary with a noble spirit”, but also branded the accused as a “radicalised monster”. Once again, he blamed “the left” for fuelling political violence in the US. Beyond his tribute to Kirk, he digressed into topics such as trade tariffs, planned autism programmes, and his long-standing grievances over the 2020 election. The memorial thus became a platform for Trump’s political agenda, merging remembrance with rhetoric.

A symbol of a broader movement

The Arizona memorial revealed how Kirk’s death has become a rallying point for conservatives. His name was linked directly to the survival of Turning Point USA, an organisation with chapters on more than 3,000 campuses. Analysts pointed out that the rhetoric of “martyrdom” has immediate consequences: it strengthens Trump’s position among evangelical voters, energises younger conservatives who once followed Kirk’s college tours, and sets the tone for the 2026 midterm campaigns.

The framing also underscored the polarisation in American politics. While supporters cast Kirk as a hero, critics highlighted the overlap between mourning and electioneering, arguing that a memorial turned into a political rally. Civil rights groups in the US warned that elevating Kirk as a “martyr” risks escalating the culture wars, deepening divides over issues such as religion in politics, gun rights, and freedom of speech.

International observers have noted the signal effect. European media described the event as a sign of how the American right uses personal tragedies to consolidate power, while US allies questioned whether this rhetoric will further complicate cooperation on democracy and human rights.

Read about the life of Westminster and Pimlico district, London and the world. 24/7 news with fresh and useful updates on culture, business, technology and city life: Flamingo Missiles Hit Russian FSB Base in Crimea – Ukraine’s New Weapon Unveiled