 "Trump’s ‘martyr’ speech, Erika Kirk’s hand gesture and more… How the Charlie Kirk memorial unfolded")
“A giant of his generation.”
“A great American hero.”
Bigger now than ever before.”
Thousands gathered at a packed State Farm Stadium in Arizona on Sunday to pay tribute and honour right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed over a week ago, on September 10, while speaking at Utah Valley University for his The American Comeback Tour, which invited students on college campuses to debate on hot-button issues.
At the memorial on Sunday, 31-year-old was repeatedly described as a martyr who would live on through his movement. As US President Donald Trump, who was in attendance, said, “He’s bigger now than ever before. And he’s eternal.”
The memorial was a combination of a celebration of Charlie Kirk’s Christian values and a political call to arms not to allow his killing to silence the conservative movement.
Here’s a look at the biggest moments from Kirk’s memorial.
A moment of forgiveness
In an arena packed with supporters and famous Maga faces such as President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance among others, Erika Kirk, wife of slain Charlie Kirk took to the podium delivering a tearful speech in which she said she had forgiven her husband’s alleged killer.
“My husband Charlie, he wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life,” she told the crowd, adding in a choked voice, “That man, that young man. I forgive him.
“I forgive him because it was what Christ did. And it’s what Charlie would do,” she continued. “The answer to hate is not hate.”
She also recounted the moments when she saw her husband’s body after he had been assassinated, saying she experienced “a level or heartache I didn’t even know existed.”
When she saw his body, she said she saw the “faintest smile” on his lips, telling her that he “didn’t suffer” and there was no “fear” or “agony” when he died.
“While Charlie died far too early, he was also ready to die. There was nothing that he was putting off,” she said.
The 36-year-old also said that she would take forward her husband’s work; she’s been elected as CEO of Turning Point USA and that campus events will continue, adding: “No assassin will ever stop us for standing up to defend those rights ever.”
Honouring Kirk as a ‘warrior’, ‘martyr’
The memorial saw thousands and thousands show up — all dressed in red, white and blue and it saw political rhetoric mixing with Christian beliefs. The mood in the stadium ebbed and flowed throughout a service that stretched more than five hours.
Moreover, the service saw the who’s who of the Republican Party, with numerous current and former lawmakers in the crowd of which many even spoke, honouring and paying tribute to Kirk and his values.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressed awe at Kirk’s ability to go into what many conservatives saw as the lion’s den to make the conservative case: college campuses. “Why don’t you start somewhere easier,” Rubio recalled thinking when he first heard about Kirk years ago. “Like, for example, communist Cuba?”
US Vice President JD Vance, who escorted Kirk’s casket back to Arizona on Air Force Two, said at the event: “We must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America. And he is a martyr for the Christian faith.”
Vance even added that the whole Trump administration was there not only because they loved Kirk, but also because they “wouldn’t be here without him”. “He loved this country with a contagious intensity.” Vance said. “He knew that America was a beautiful place … he knew America’s best days were not behind us but ahead of us, but he knew those better days would have to be earned, would have to be worked for.”
Others also eulogised Kirk and celebrated his Christian faith. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr even said: “Jesus Christ died at 33 years old but he changed the trajectory of history. Charlie died at 31 years old but, because he has surrendered, he also now has changed the trajectory of history.”
Trump’s love for Kirk and hate for opponents
Charlie Kirk’s memorial ended with US President Donald Trump’s speech in which he celebrated the right-wing activist’s life and ramped up his political rhetoric against his opponents.
Speaking on Kirk, the US president said, “Less than two weeks ago, our country was robbed of one of the brightest lights of our time. None of us will ever forget Charlie Kirk, and neither will history.”
He further went on to describe Kirk as “a great American hero”. “His name will live forever in the eternal chronicle of America’s greatest patriots,” he added.
The American leader then went on to add that his philosophy toward his opponents was different from Kirk’s.
“He was a missionary with a noble spirit and a great, great purpose. He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them,” Trump said. “That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent,” he said. “And I don’t want the best for them.”
“Erika, you can talk to me and the whole group, but maybe they can convince me that that’s not right, but I can’t stand my opponent,” he added.
On the stage, he also blamed “the left” for political violence in America. He called the alleged shooter a “radicalised cold-blooded monster” and reiterated his direction to the Justice Department to investigate groups he claims contribute to political violence.
A reunion for Trump and Elon Musk
The Kirk memorial, which saw thousands and thousands of people converge at the sports stadium in Arizona, also resulted in a reunion between US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
In fact, at one stage, the tech billionaire, who had a bitter and public falling out with the American president earlier this year, sat next to each other and the pair shook hands and chatted.
This is the first time that the two have been seen publicly together since Musk exited from government service in May. Ever since then, the two have had a high-profile falling out, which even saw Musk threatening to start his own new political party. It is reported that Kirk acted as a mediator of sorts between Trump and Musk.
The Tesla and X CEO even posted a photo of his reunion with Trump, with the caption: “For Charlie.”
Other notable highlights
The memorial also had other big moments. At the memorial, anger also made an appearance with some of the speakers giving into their feelings. One such individual was White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. In what was perhaps the most combative speech, Miller vowed to quash “enemies” and to “prevail over the forces of wickedness and evil.”
He added that the Trump administration would “channel all of the anger that we have over the organised campaign that led to this assassination to uproot and dismantle these terrorist networks.”
It is also being reported that US President Trump became overwhelmed with emotions at the memorial. In images that have since gone viral, one can see his son, Eric, standing with him and rubbing his back.
President @realDonaldTrump and @EricTrump arrive to celebrate the life of Charlie Kirk ❤️🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/k5P4UU6Kgv
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) September 21, 2025
There was also the moment that Erika Kirk raised her hand, which has gone viral across the world. the gesture means “I love you” in sign language.
With inputs from agencies
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