President Donald Trump will lead mourners at the funeral of Charlie Kirk, addressing tens of thousands expected to gather inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Lines of mourners snaked outside the venue for hours ahead of the memorial for the conservative firebrand, who was assassinated at Utah Valley University on September 10.
Trump will be joined on stage by Vice President J.D. Vance and senior members of his Cabinet, with security around the stadium described as ‘extraordinarily tight.’
Kirk’s widow, Erika, will also deliver a eulogy — just days after it was announced she will succeed her late husband as head of his powerhouse organization, Turning Point USA.
Follow all the live updates:
President Trump says Kirk’s memorial will be a ‘tough day’ and a ‘celebration of a great man’
President Donald Trump vowed that Charlie Kirk’s memorial in Arizona would be ‘a celebration of a great man’ as he departed the White House this morning.
Speaking solemnly, Trump said the service would also be a ‘time of healing’ for a movement left reeling by Kirk’s assassination.
‘That something like this could have happened is not even believable,’ he told reporters. ‘It will be a very interesting day — a very tough day.’
When asked what message he had for Kirk’s family, Trump’s voice softened: ‘I will just give them my love. There’s nothing much you can say.’
The president hailed Kirk’s legacy, describing how the 31-year-old conservative leader ‘had a hold on youth because they loved him, they respected him.’ The service, he added, will shine a light on Kirk’s ‘tremendous influence… for such a young man, he did a great job.’
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200,000 people expected to attend Charlie Kirk’s memorial
More than 200,000 people have registered to attend Charlie Kirk’s memorial service — far exceeding the capacity of State Farm Stadium, home to the Arizona Cardinals, which seats 63,000.
An additional 19,000 mourners will be accommodated at Desert Diamond Arena nearby, which will serve as an official overflow venue.
Hundreds of Secret Service agents have been deployed to the site, and the security has been described as ‘Super Bowl-level’.
Sections of the stadiumn already filling up, three hours before start of the service
Who is Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika
Charlie Kirk built a $100m empire after dropping out of college
Who is speaking at Charlie Kirk’s funeral
Erika Kirk, Turning Point USA CEO and Charlie Kirk’s widow
Secretary of State Marco Rubio
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller
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Erika Kirk’s startled friends reveal their fears after husband Charlie’s assassination… and what she plans next: ‘That’s just so not her’
Steve Bannon arrives for Charlie Kirk’s memorial service
Traffic at a standstill outside the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
Drone footage shows enormous crowds outside Charlie Kirk memorial service
Thousands line up for Charlie Kirk’s funeral
Thousands of mourners lined up in the early hours of Sunday morning for the funeral of Charlie Kirk in Glendale, Arizona.
Most of the attendees were wearing red, white and blue as they snaked around the State Farm Stadium.
Security was extremely tight, with President Donald Trump and members of the Cabinet scheduled to speak.
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Charlie Kirk funeral live updates: Trump to join tens of thousands in Arizona for memorial service
