Charlie Kirk’s public memorial in Glendale, Arizona, turned into one of the biggest events of the year, drawing more than 200,000 people and a lineup of high-profile names from politics, media, and business.
The service, held at State Farm Stadium, was packed to capacity, with thousands more filling up an overflow arena and watching via livestreams carried on major networks. Security was so tight that the Department of Homeland Security gave it a Super Bowl-level rating.
Among the most talked-about moments was the reunion of Elon Musk and President Donald Trump. The two, who had a public fallout years ago, were spotted sitting together in a luxury suite, chatting and even shaking hands. Musk posted on X during the event, calling Kirk’s death “murder by the Dark for showing people the Light” and said he was honored to attend.
The emotional centerpiece of the night came from Kirk’s widow, Erika, who has taken over leadership of Turning Point USA. In a powerful speech, she forgave her husband’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, saying, “The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love.” Her words drew huge applause from the crowd.
But while Erika struck a tone of forgiveness and revival, other speakers leaned heavily into anger and defiance. Stephen Miller delivered a fiery address, promising to “defeat the forces of darkness and evil,” while Vice President J.D. Vance praised Kirk as someone who transformed conservatism.
Trump closed the memorial with his trademark mix of praise and political fire, describing Kirk as a “missionary with a noble spirit” but admitting, “That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponents.” He also took shots at the media, political rivals, and even hinted at a major policy announcement to come.
The night was a mix of mourning, revival, politics, and spectacle — but it was Erika Kirk’s message of love and forgiveness that stood out against the fiery backdrop.
