Charlie Kirk memorial highlights: Trump, Vance give speeches at State Farm Stadium service
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Tens of thousands supporters gathered in Glendale, Arizona, for a high-security memorial service honoring the conservative activist.
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Charlie Kirk honored at stadium memorial
- Around 95,000 people gathered for Charlie Kirk’s public memorial today at State Farm Stadium and an overflow arena outside Phoenix.
- Trump delivered a lengthy speech, saying Kirk was a "martyr" for "American freedom."
- Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, delivered one of the most emotional moments of the night, telling the packed stadium she forgave the gunman.
- Religion and politics were central throughout the event, with speakers describing Kirk as both a Christian evangelist and a martyr.
- The event also featured fiery denunciations of political opponents, as well as calls for revival and spiritual warfare.
- Charlie Kirk, 31, was assassinated Sept. 10 while he was speaking at a campus event at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson has been charged with aggravated murder, among other charges.
Charlie Kirk memorial attendees react to Jimmy Kimmel suspension
People at the Charlie Kirk memorial in Phoenix reacted to Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension from his late-night show over his comments about Kirk.
Kimmel's removal sparked outrage from Democrats and free speech advocates, who argued that he was being unfairly punished for speech the Trump administration disliked.
Watch President Trump's full speech at Charlie Kirk's memorial
Trump spoke at the memorial.
Charlie Kirk's political acumen and faith were focuses at memorial service
Trump wrapped up a long list of speakers at Kirk’s memorial, where political and religious leaders praised his faith and political influence. NBC News’ Garrett Haake reports from the packed State Farm Stadium.
Trump wraps up speech
Trump wrapped up his speech by calling Kirk's wife, Erika, back up to the stage as "America the Beautiful" blared in the background.
He closed out his remarks saying: "Thank you very much and good luck. God be with you."
Kirk will posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Trump says
Trump said he'd "award Charlie the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom."
He remembered Kirk as “bigger now than ever before,” calling him “eternal.”
Trump first announced the award for Kirk last week in remarks at the Pentagon's event to commemorate the 9/11 attacks.
Some people were starting to head for the exits about 30 minutes into Trump's remarks.
Trump is delivering the final speech of the program
The president eulogized Kirk as a “master builder” of people, who “did not hate his opponents.”
“He wanted the best for them,” Trump says. “That’s where I disagree with Charlie. I hate my opponents, and I don’t want the best for them. I am sorry, Erika.”
Watch Erika Kirk's full speech
Charlie Kirk's wife, Erika Kirk, spoke at her husband's memorial service, describing the moment she saw his dead body and vowing to continue his legacy with Turning Point USA.
Erika Kirk says she forgives slain husband's shooter
Erika Kirk was in tears as she spoke about forgiving the man accused of taking her husband's life. The emotions in the stadium were palpable during that part of her speech.
"I forgive him," Erika Kirk said. "I forgive him because it was what Christ did and what Charlie would do. The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love, and always love — love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us."
Erika Kirk promises Turning Point USA's campus events and debates will continue
Erika Kirk answers one of the big questions about Turning Point USA’s future and says campus events and debates will continue under her leadership.
Erika Kirk reflects on her husband's final moments
Erika Kirk spoke about her husband’s death, describing it as “so instant” that he felt “no fear, no agony” in his final moments.
“I saw the wound that ended his life. … I felt shock, I felt horror and a level of heartache that I didn't even know existed,” she said. “One moment Charlie was doing what he loved, arguing and debating on campus, fighting for the Gospel. And then he blinked and saw his savior in paradise.”
What Erika Kirk said right after her husband died
After Kirk was fatally shot at Utah Valley University, his widow, Erika Kirk, made her first public remarks, saying the work he started won't stop.
“The evildoers responsible for my husband’s assassination have no idea what they have done,” she said at the time. “They killed Charlie because he preached a message of patriotism, faith and of God’s merciful love.”
Kirk's wife, Erika, takes the stage
Erika Kirk wipes a tear from her eye as she takes the podium.
Vice President JD Vance remembers Kirk as a 'martyr'
Vice President JD Vance, a devout Catholic, called Kirk a "hero" and a "martyr for the Christian faith."
Three protesters outside Kirk memorial
As the memorial service nears its end, three lone protesters stand outside with their signs.
Protester Noah James Markham arrived holding a Pride flag and carrying a sign that referred to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. He told NBC News that he appreciated Kirk's willingness to debate young people on college campuses and that he used to attend Turning Point USA events as a fan of the MAGA movement.
Protester Noah James Markham. Chris Young / NBC News
“The way he was killed, I don’t believe that should have happened,” Markham said. “But also, I do feel like when you put hatred out there, and there’s a lot of people that have opinions, too, and are more sensitive, I really truly believe that somebody can bite back at you if you’re going to keep on doing that.”
One protester, who declined to be identified, held up a sign that read, “No kings, no liars, no pedos, no fascists,” urging observers to read George Orwell’s dystopian novel “Animal Farm.”
Another anonymous protester alluded to Kirk’s words about the death penalty, holding up a sign that read: “It should be public, it should be quick, it should be televised!”
Elon Musk joined Trump in his box during Hegseth's remarks
Tesla CEO Elon Musk took a seat beside Trump in his private box when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth began speaking.
Musk, Trump and Dana White, the CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, were animated as they spoke, occasionally pausing to listen to Hegseth's remarks, with Musk nodding repeatedly.
The interaction appeared to be friendly, marking the first public sighting of Musk and Trump together since Trump honored Musk in May at the end of his service with the Department of Government Efficiency, according to media pool reports.
Trump and Musk talk at the memorial today. Ross D. Franklin / AP
In the following months, Trump and Musk engaged in a series of public disagreements over policy and politics, representing the most contentious chapter in their yearslong, at times rocky, relationship.
Musk left his seat at the end of Hegseth's remarks.
Speakers promote Kirk’s willingness to engage with political opponents as they condemn ‘enemies’
A host of prominent members of the Trump administration and the president’s family spoke of Kirk as someone who was open-minded toward those who opposed his views, emphasizing that his ideological allies do not condone violence.
Donald Trump Jr., who was a close with Kirk, said he “embodied something at the very core of our movement: “When people disagree with us, we don’t silence them, we don’t destroy them, and we certainly don’t sink to violence.”
“Charlie delighted in his belief that people could be persuaded,” Trump Jr. added. “He believed the way to win hearts was with truth, with courage and with conversation.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Kirk “understood that we were not created to isolate ourselves from one another, but to engage.”
“The irony in all this is that what our nation needs, one of the many things it needs, is the ability to discuss our differences openly, honestly, peacefully, respectfully,” he added.
Some, however, did speak of political opponents in harsh terms. Stephen Miller, the deputy White House chief of staff, decried “our enemies,” who he said are “trying to foment hatred against us.”
“You have nothing,” Miller said. “You are nothing. You are wickedness. You are jealousy, you are envy, you are hatred. You are nothing. You can build nothing. You can produce nothing. You can create nothing. We are the ones who build. We are the ones who create. We are the ones who lift up humanity.”
And Vice President JD Vance repeatedly mentioned “they” and “those” who killed Kirk. Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old in Utah, was charged with Kirk’s assassination, and law enforcement has not released any evidence of a broader conspiracy involving accomplices or ties to left-wing groups.
“I can’t help but think that they tried to silence my friend Charlie Kirk,” Vance said. “They tried to silence our dear friend Charlie Kirk, and today, tonight, we speak with Charlie and for Charlie, louder than ever.”
Thousands of people attended the memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. NBC News’ Dana Griffin details the major security operation at the stadium, and Garrett Haake reports on the speakers working to build on Kirk’s legacy.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. praises Charlie Kirk for championing free speech
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke at Charlie Kirk's memorial, honoring him as a champion of free speech.
National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard called Kirk “fearless” in a speech. “By trying to silence Charlie, his voice is now louder than ever,” she said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Charlie Kirk a hero and spoke about their personal relationship, calling on the crowd to live a life “worthy” of Kirk’s sacrifice.
In the aftermath of Kirk's death, Hegseth told his staff to identify any members of the military who mocked or condoned the assassination so that they can be punished, two defense officials told NBC News.
Photos: Memorial inspires emotional response from audience
Many audience members were overcome with emotion at the memorial today.
Susie Wiles makes rare public remarks
The fact that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles spoke today marked an incredibly rare moment. Wiles almost never speaks at events or in public.
Even after Trump won his 2024 election, Wiles declined an opportunity to say a few words during his victory speech. Typically a behind-the-scenes operator, Wiles decided to give remarks today, underscoring the depth of her relationship with Kirk.
Stephen Miller evokes 'righteous fury' against unnamed 'enemies'
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said Kirk's death created a "fire in our hearts" as he evoked themes of battle against a nameless enemy.
"That fire burns with a righteous fury that our enemies cannot comprehend or understand," Miller said. "You have no idea the dragon you have awakened."
Miller added that those enemies don’t understand how determined Kirk’s supporters are to “save this civilization, to save the West, to save this republic, because our children are strong, and our grandchildren will be strong, and our children’s children’s children will be strong.”
“We will defeat the forces of darkness and evil, and we will stand every day for what is true, what is beautiful, what is good,” he continued, “and we will achieve victory for our children, for our families, for our civilization and for every patriot who stands with us.”
Carlson describes Kirk as a 'Christian evangelist'
Tucker Carlson, the prominent right-wing commentator and podcast host, described Kirk as a “Christian evangelist” who was “bringing the Gospel to the country” and “doing the thing that the people in charge hate most, which is calling for them to repent.”
“And Charlie was a political person who was deeply interested in coalition-building and getting the right people in office, because he knew that vast improvements are possible politically, but he also knew that politics is not the final answer,” Carlson said. “It can’t answer the deepest questions. Actually, the only real solution is Jesus.”
Carlson was the latest in a series of speakers to highlight Kirk’s religious convictions, a focal point among those who addressed his memorial.
Investigation into 'theories and questions' in Kirk's death continues, Patel says
FBI Director Kash Patel said on X today that the agency continues to investigate "theories and questions" surrounding Kirk's death but that some information must remain withheld.
"To protect the integrity of the investigation and subsequent prosecution, we cannot release every piece of information we have to the public right now," Patel said. "We will ensure every question is addressed at the appropriate moment."
He said the lines of inquiry include the location and angle from which the shooter fired his weapon, the possibility of accomplices, text message conversations and Discord chats, hand gestures observed as potential "signals" at the time of the shooting and who may have visited the suspect's residence in the hours and days leading up to the incident.
"Some details are known today, while others are still being pursued to ensure every possibility is considered," Patel said.
He also addressed questions about a plane that had "allegedly turned off its transponder after departing from an airport near the assassination site." Patel said that "after interviews with the pilot and consultation with the FAA, we determined the transponder was not turned off. Incomplete flight data in rural areas caused the apparent gap."
Trump aide Sergio Gor: 'Charlie was all Trump'
Trump aide Sergio Gor called Kirk a "MAGA warrior" at the memorial.
"Charlie always marched forward. He embodied the MAGA warrior, never backing down," he said.
"Charlie was all Trump," Gor added. "When the president had an idea, no matter how big it was, Charlie was always willing to make it happen."
No protesters outside Kirk memorial
Authorities had designated an area for protesters, but a scan of the stadium exterior shows there's no one visible there so far.
Trump appears behind bulletproof glass at memorial
Trump was seen waving from behind bulletproof glass in the skybox above the crowd. His appearance drew big cheers.
Trump, his son Eric, Bettina Anderson and his son Donald Trump Jr. at the memorial today. Patrick T. Fallon / AFP - Getty Images
Witness recalls Kirk's final moments
Frank Turek, a Christian philosopher who was with Kirk when he was shot in Utah, told the crowd that those around him “did everything we could to save Charlie.”
“But Charlie was already gone,” Turek said. “His face was looking at mine, but he wasn’t looking at me. He was looking past me right into eternity. And if it’s any comfort at all, I learned later that Charlie felt no pain. He died instantly.”
Conservative activist Jack Posobiec calls on people to face 'spiritual warfare'
Conservative activist Jack Posobiec invoked Kirk's death as a "sacrifice" that saved Western civilization, leaning into similar highly religious imagery that has peppered many of the speeches.
"We will come to find that in the final moment that Western civilization was saved through Charlie's sacrifice in the only way possible: by returning the people to almighty God," Posobiec said.
Posobiec holds up a cross as he speaks today. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Most speakers so far have leaned heavily into religious themes, but Posobiec's speech ultimately went further, calling on people to face "spiritual warfare."
"Are you ready to fight back, and are you ready to put on the full armor of God and face the evil in high places and the spiritual warfare before us?" he asked. "Then put on the full armor of God. Do it now. Now is the time. This is the place."
Rep. Luna compares Kirk to JFK and MLK Jr.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., a former Turning Point USA official, compared Kirk to President John F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., both of whom were also assassinated, in her speech.
“His name will stand etched in the history besides the likes of JFK, who boldly challenged a generation to ask what they could do for their country amid the shadows of the Cold War, and Dr. King, who marched into the jaws of hatred, sacrificing his safety and ultimately his life, to bend the arc of history towards justice.”
She added that just as Kennedy inspired “innovation and resolve” in the country while King redeemed “it through moral courage,” Kirk “altered the trajectory of our modern fight against cultural decay and ideological tyranny,”
Kirk notably was critical of King, calling him an “awful” person who “said one good thing he actually didn’t believe.”
The White House was very involved in today's memorial
The White House was heavily involved in the memorial, including the venue's security.
High-profile administration officials, including Trump and Vance, will deliver tributes. Trump landed in Arizona a short while ago.
Many of the speakers so far have focused on Kirk's legacy, as well as his impact through Turning Point USA. The speakers also discussed Kirk's impact on them as both a friend and a colleague.
Benny Johnson says 'God has created a revival right here'
Benny Johnson speaks today at the memorial. John Locher / AP
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson asked the crowd if it could feel "the Holy Spirit" and a "revival happening right now."
He laid out how he viewed the memorial in terms of good versus evil.
His comments carried the revival-style church atmosphere that has defined the program so far.
"How does it always work?" he asked. "What man intends for evil, God intends for good. Evil thought that there would be a funeral today. God has created a revival right here in this house, right now."
Organizers play brief video of Kirk pitching activists to join Turning Point USA
Organizers played a brief video detailing Kirk’s thoughts on the organization he co-founded, Turning Point USA, that doubled as a recruitment pitch for conservative activists
“This is not just another D.C. gig,” Kirk said in the footage. “It’s about saving Western civilization. We are the most important organization in the country. You are part of it.”
The video was played in between speeches by prominent Turning Point USA officials, including Tyler Bowyer, the chief operating officer of Turning Point Action and a Republican National Committee member from Arizona, and Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of Kirk's podcast and a spokesperson for Turning Point USA.
Kirk once pushed a ‘secular worldview’
Early speakers at Kirk’s memorial, including Turning Point USA’s Andrew Kolvet and conservative personality Benny Johnson, have spoken about Kirk’s death in expressly religious terms.
In his speech, Johnson said Kirk “is a martyr in the true Christian tradition.”
“Raise your hand if Charlie Kirk centered you a little closer to Christ,” Johnson said.
Kirk’s rise in conservative politics was accelerated amid the Covid pandemic when he made more expressly religious turn, as NBC News reported last year.
After earlier arguing that politics should be advanced through a “secular worldview,” Kirk began to more closely embrace Christian nationalism, saying on a 2022 episode of his podcast that “there is no separation of church and state.”
In 2021, he co-founded TPUSA Faith. Turning Point USA’s fundraising exploded and its mission expanded at this time, and Kirk’s podcast started to take off, too.
Speakers lean into religious themes
Religion has been a recurring theme throughout the memorial so far, woven into both the music and speeches.
Mikey McCoy, a friend and colleague, described him as "martyred for using his voice to engage in peaceful dialogue" and vowed that "we won’t cower in fear, we will never surrender," in the wake of Kirk's death.
McCoy urged the crowed to "boldly challenge what is accepted by culture in order to seek out what is true and acceptable to God almighty alone."
Tyler Bowyer, who said he was the longest-tenured employee at Turning Point USA, began his remarks by saying that "Charlie is having some serious heavenly FOMO right now."
"You have no idea how much Charlie Kirk wants a bullhorn down here right now. He always said to me, 'If we could just figure out how to bring the Holy Spirit into a Trump rally ... '" Bowyer said. "Think you've done it."
Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon are among the VIPs
Tucker Carlson, a close friend of Kirk’s, is among the VIPs in attendance and is scheduled to deliver remarks later.
"War Room" host Steve Bannon has been broadcasting live from the venue throughout the morning.
Also present are several prominent conservatives and activists including Scott Presler, Terry Schilling, Kyle Rittenhouse and former congressman Madison Cawthorn, who mingled with supporters and posed for a selfie by the concession stands.
Trump lands in Arizona for Kirk's memorial
The president has landed in Arizona for Kirk's memorial. He will deliver remarks this afternoon.
Photos: Worship and prayer set the tone
The stadium was filled with the sights and sounds of worship, with some clutching Bibles. Attendees bowed their head in prayer and sang along to hymns, while posters of Kirk lined the seats.
Posters of conservative activist Charlie Kirk are seen on chairs before his memorial. John Locher / AP
A man holds a Bible outside before the memorial. Jae C. Hong / AP
Dan Beazley stands with a cross at the memorial. John Locher / AP
A man listens during a worship song before the start of the memorial. Ross D. Franklin / AP
Who was Charlie Kirk?
From grassroots organizer to a nationally recognized — and often divisive — conservative figure, Kirk's life was anything but quiet.
Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA when he was 18 and went on to become a leading voice in President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement. He was killed on Sept. 10 when he was shot at a political event in Utah.
Kirk, a popular podcast host and married father of two young children, was 31.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump announced on Truth Social.
Kirk got his first taste of activism when he and a classmate launched a protest against the rising price of food at his high school cafeteria. But it was an opinion piece he wrote while he was still a teenager for the conservative news site Breitbart, in which he discussed liberalism in textbooks, that set him on the road to becoming a national figure.
Soon Kirk was making appearances on Fox News and at tea party rallies, crossing paths with activist Bill Montgomery, who urged him to take his conservative message to college campuses.
Together they founded Turning Point USA to mobilize college-age Republicans. Kirk, who briefly attended Harper College, a community college in Palatine, Illinois, dropped out to focus on the group full time.
Elon Musk says he is 'honored' to be at Kirk memorial
In a post on X, tech mogul and former Trump adviser Elon Musk said that he's "honored" to attend Kirk's memorial.
"Every seat in this giant arena that isn’t roped off for security is packed to the ceiling. Honored to be here. All for Charlie Kirk," Musk wrote alongside a video of the packed stadium.
Bagpipes and worship music opens Charlie Kirk's memorial
Kirk's memorial is now underway, opening with a bagpipe performance of "Amazing Grace."
A large portrait of Kirk is on stage as musicians lead the tens of thousands in the audience in a worship song reminiscent of a megachurch service.
Turning Point USA estimates about 95,000 people are attending the memorial
Turning Point USA’s Andrew Kolvet told NBC News that the group believes approximately 95,000 people are in the main stadium and at the overflow arena next door.
They have no way of estimating how many additional people are gathered outside.
NBC News cannot independently verify those numbers. Every available seat in the football stadium appears full.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett explains vote against Kirk resolution
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, explained her decision to vote against a House resolution last week that aimed to honor Kirk.
"The rhetoric that Charlie Kirk continuously put out there was rhetoric that specifically targeted people of color," Crockett said in an interview today on CNN.
She added that it was "unfortunate" that her Democratic colleagues who did vote in favor of the resolution "could not see how harmful his rhetoric was specifically to us."
Crockett also pointed to comments Kirk made about her on his podcast weeks before his death, saying that she and other Democrats were part of a "great replacement of white people."
"The great replacement of white people is far more sinister than any redistricting project," Kirk said at the time. "That is at the core of the Democrat project — at the core — and Jasmine Crockett is just some circus act in that entire operation."
"You shouldn't take what she says seriously. It's just a joke," Kirk said about Crockett.
The "great replacement" theory is a white nationalist conspiracy claiming that people of color are being brought into Western countries to replace white populations.
Crockett said on CNN that she wasn't aware of Kirk's comments when they were made but they influenced her decision to vote against the resolution.
"If there was any way that I was going to honor somebody who decided that they were just going to negatively talk about me and proclaim that I was somehow involved in the 'great white replacement?' Yeah, I'm not honoring that kind of stuff," the congresswoman said.
She said that Kirk "should still be here," and that his death was fueled by political violence.
Families fill stadium stands
People sit inside before the start of a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Sunday, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. John Locher / AP
As attendees trickle into the stadium, children — and even babies — are filling the stands with their parents for today's event. The crowd includes longtime Kirk supporters, families young and old, and Republican operatives from across the country.
“You look at how full this place is. This is the power of martyrdom,” said Harlan Hill, cradling his 8-month-old daughter, Eleanor. The Dallas-based Republican consultant said he wanted her to witness an event he believes will still be remembered 40 years from now.
“He’s fighting for a cause that’s much bigger than any of us,” Hill said of Kirk, who was gunned down less than two weeks ago. “I still feel his presence in this room and miss him dearly.”
Earlier, a band called for healing as attendees posted one by one before a large wooden cross.
Gov. Josh Shapiro says Americans must ‘universally condemn’ political violence
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called for Americans to “universally condemn political violence” and “find our better angels” in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination and a string of politically motivated violent incidents.
“We’ve got to universally condemn political violence, no matter where it is, whether it’s against Charlie Kirk or someone else. It is not OK. We all have to work together to condemn it. We’ve got to find our better angels,” Shapiro, a Democrat, told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker in an interview that aired this morning.
Shapiro reflected on the multiple attacks just this year, including Kirk’s assassination, the killings of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband in June, and the arson attack at his official governor’s residence in April.
“I think we’re at an inflection point as a nation, and I think we can go in a number of different ways. I hope we go the direction of healing, of bringing people together, of trying to find our commonalities, not just focus on our differences,” Shapiro told Welker.
Designated protest area remains empty
The designated protest area is so far completely empty.
Glendale police spokesperson Jose Santiago said ahead of the event that there will be a "free speech zone set aside" for protestors.
Crowds walking away from stadium as it reaches capacity
A stream of people are walking away from State Farm Stadium. Several families were told it's already full.
Tight security at memorial
Security is tight at State Farm Stadium for Kirk's memorial. Officers from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, TSA and U.S. Secret Service are all on site, alongside state and local police.
Reporters entering the event went through two separate bag sweeps: once with Secret Service and K9s, and another by hand at the entrance to the stadium.
NBC News learned earlier that Glendale and the state of Arizona are bracing for a large-scale event unlike any other hosted at State Farm Stadium. The service is expected to draw a crowd as large as 100,000 people, with President Trump and top members of his administration among the attendees.
“It’s all hands-on deck” said Glendale police spokesperson Jose Santiago. “We get two years to plan for a Super Bowl, but here we have one week.”
The Department of Homeland Security has designated the service a SEAR Level 1 event — a status reserved for gatherings of the highest national significance. This designation allows the full range of federal law enforcement and security resources to support local authorities.
The U.S. Secret Service, FBI, FEMA, CISA and HSI and other agencies are working alongside state and local authorities. “Together, we are fully committed to ensuring that these solemn events receive the comprehensive protection and support they require," William Mack, special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service Phoenix Field Office, said.
Supporters travel across the country to honor Kirk
Kirk's supporters told NBC News that they wanted to attend the memorial service to honor his memory and stand behind his ideas.
"We’ve got to show that we have to spread his word, his voice, since he no longer can be here anymore. We’re the ones that are going to be the voice for him now," one woman said.
A man said he wanted to "show the respect to Charlie, for our faith and to let them know that they’re not going to kill what Charlie stood for and we’re here to stand for him."
Some of Kirk's supporters traveled across the country to attend today's memorial. A woman from Detroit came because Kirk "really impacted my faith and how he shares the gospel everywhere we go."
Another attendee said she and another individual traveled from Florida and Illinois, respectively, to attend the memorial.
"I think it’s important to show our respects to just let the whole nation know that this is something that we stand for," she told NBC News. "We don’t agree with, and we’re willing to put our face out there and show that this is an important cause for us."
Photo: Crowds gather before sunrise
A large crowd gathered outside State Farm Stadium before sunrise this morning, waiting for Charlie Kirk's memorial.
People wait outside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., this morning. Dana Griffin / NBC News
State Farm Stadium is filling up
Crowds are filling State Farm Stadium this morning for Kirk's memorial. President Trump is expected to pay tribute from this stage to the conservative figure and Turning Point USA co-founder.
State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., begins to fill up this morning. Katherine Doyle / NBC News
The Charlie Kirk memorial has been designated a high security event by Homeland Security. Katherine Doyle / NBC News
Vance posts video of Kirk's casket being transferred after assassination
Vance posted a video of Kirk's casket being transported from Utah to Arizona aboard Air Force Two, one day after Kirk's assassination.
"Last week, we brought my dear friend Charlie Kirk home one last time," Vance said. "Today, we return to Arizona to remember Charlie and honor his sacrifice. May he eternally rest in peace, and may God watch over Erika and their beautiful children."
Attendees gather hours before memorial
Crowds in wearing red, white and blue streamed past checkpoints and waited in parking lots hours before Kirk's memorial service began.
Many arrived before sunrise, some in "Make America Great Again" gear or American flag-themed clothing.
Social media videos from the scene at State Farm Stadium showed attendees chanting "USA, USA, USA." Another video showed attendees saying together, "God is good."
One man, who said his group traveled about four hours to attend, told NBC News that "freedom of speech and having your own opinions and being able to debate that in a public forum should always be top priority in this country," the attendee said.
Kirk, he added, was "a beacon of light" who had the courage to discuss "hard issues."
Photo: Volunteers arrive for Kirk's funeral
Volunteers walk past the State Farm stadium yesterday. Charly Triballeau / AFP - Getty Images
Trump and MAGA movement will honor Charlie Kirk at Arizona memorial
President Donald Trump and prominent members of his “Make America Great Again” movement will pay tribute today to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose slaying has marked a signal moment in America’s fraught political atmosphere.
The memorial service for Kirk, whom Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, is expected to draw tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice President JD Vance, senior White House officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand.
Kirk’s assassination at a Sept. 10 appearance on a Utah college campus has set off a fierce debate about violence, decency and free speech in an era of deep political division. The shooting also has stirred fear among some Americans that Trump is trying to harness outrage over the killing as justification to suppress the voices of his critics and political opponents.
The service will take place at State Farm Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals west of Phoenix, where Kirk’s Turning Point organization is based. Security is expected to be tight, with a similar level of federal law enforcement presence as for the Super Bowl or other high-profile event.
Photo: Roads sealed off around State Farm Stadium before Kirk's memorial
Workers close the road around the State Farm stadium yesterday. Charly Triballeau / AFP - Getty Images
What to know about State Farm Stadium, the venue hosting Charlie Kirk’s memorial service today
The memorial for conservative figure Charlie Kirk will be held today at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Doors will open at 8 a.m., and the program is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. CT.
Who uses State Farm Stadium?
State Farm Stadium is a multipurpose, retractable roof stadium that can hold up to 73,000 people for its largest events. It’s located in Glendale, which is a suburb just west of Phoenix.
Its most recognizable tenant is the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and the franchise has played at the facility since it opened in 2006.
Why is the event at State Farm Stadium?
The stadium is the largest facility in the Phoenix metropolitan area and also has air conditioning, which is useful in the Sonoran Desert where the temperature routinely tops 100 degrees Fahrenheit, even in late September.
Kirk also has ties to Arizona. His conservative organization Turning Point USA is based in Phoenix and Kirk lived in the area.
