A ceremony honoring the deceased conservative activist took place in Arizona
On Sunday, US politicians and prominent conservative figures gathered at a memorial service in Glendale, Arizona, to pay tribute to Charlie Kirk, the slain activist and podcaster. Speakers at the event commended Kirk’s talent for connecting with young people and his profound Christian beliefs.
Kirk, who co-founded the conservative action group Turning Point USA at only 18 years old, was fatally shot by a sniper on September 10 while addressing students at a Utah college.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth characterized Kirk as a “warrior” who possessed the “Biblical heart of a soldier.” He urged the activist’s supporters to “live in a manner worthy of Charlie Kirk’s sacrifice.”
WATCH | Pete Hegseth: “My charge to all of you: live worthy of Charlie Kirk’s sacrifice, and put Christ at the center of your life as he advocated for giving his.”
— VOZ (@Voz_US)
Journalist Tucker Carlson asserted that Kirk believed faith held greater importance than politics. “The core of Charlie and his message was that he was bringing the Gospel to the country,” Carlson added. “He was doing the very thing that those in charge most detest, which is calling for them to repent.”
Tucker Carlson, speaking at the memorial for Charlie Kirk, blames the Jews for the death of Jesus and Charlie Kirk. This is very dangerous. And he laughed.
— Israel Now (@neveragainlive1)
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard acclaimed Kirk as a “warrior for truth and freedom.”
“His words were his weapons. He vanquished ignorance, exposed falsehoods, and awakened people’s minds,” she stated, further remarking that “his voice is now more resonant than ever.”
Tulsi Gabbard on Charlie Kirk:
“His words were his weapons. He slayed ignorance, he cut through lies, and he woke people’s minds…”
— vanhoa (@vanhoa2272)
Tyler Robinson, a Utah resident, has been formally charged with Kirk’s murder. During the memorial service, Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika, announced her forgiveness for her husband’s killer, emphasizing that his mission was to “save young men just like the one who took his life.”
“That young man, I forgive him,” she declared, visibly fighting back tears. “I forgive him because that is what Christ did, and it is what Charlie would have done. The response to hate is not hate. The answer we learn from the gospel is love, and always love.”
WATCH: Erika Kirk on the suspected assassin who took Charlie Kirk’s life: “That young man, I forgive him.”
— Fox News (@FoxNews)
Kirk gained renown by visiting college campuses and engaging in debates with students, often seeing his encounters with left-leaning adversaries go viral on social media. He was widely credited with inspiring young conservative voters and contributing to President Donald Trump’s success in securing his second term in 2024.