The widow of Charlie Kirk, the influential young conservative shot dead on a college campus, offered forgiveness to his killer Sunday, at a memorial service in Arizona that wove the politics of Donald Trump into American Christian culture.
Mr. Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10, a killing that has brought fury, grief and reprisals from supporters around the world – and cheers from some who condemned his views.
His memorial service filled a football stadium just outside Phoenix with tens of thousands gathered to hear from the most powerful people in the country, who described Mr. Kirk as a prophet who led a conservative revival in the U.S.
Earlier: At Charlie Kirk’s Arizona headquarters, a stubborn hope for peace lingers amid fury
The event brought to the fore political aspiration, new expressions of Mr. Trump’s grievances and resolute pledges to carry on Mr. Kirk’s work.
“He wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,” said Erika Kirk, who has taken over as chief executive officer of Turning Point USA, the organization her late husband founded.
“That man,” she added, “I forgive him.”
U.S. President Donald Trump hailed slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a 'martyr for American freedom' on Sunday and vowed at his memorial service to carry on his work, while again accusing what he called the 'radical left' for Kirk's murder.
Reuters
At the Sunday service, it was difficult to discern where church ended and a political rally began.
Organizers suggested attending in “Sunday best” attire, but for many, that meant Trump T-shirts and Make America Great Again caps. People wore the Stars and Stripes fashioned into all manner of clothing: kerchiefs, golf visors, cowboy shirts, billowing pants. One man walked in with a red hat emblazoned with a single word: WAR.
Mr. Kirk “always said to me, ‘if we can just figure out how to bring the Holy Spirit to a Trump rally,’” said Tyler Bowyer, the chief executive officer of Turning Point Action, which conducts political advocacy. He looked out at the crowd gathered for the ceremony: “I think you’ve done it.”
David Shribman: Kirk’s memorial was a religious ceremony, state funeral and political rally in one
Hours later, Mr. Trump himself spoke, pledging to mark Mr. Kirk’s death with a more ardent pursuit of his own governance agenda, which has included deploying federal troops to liberal-leaning cities.
“One of the last things he said to me is, ‘Please sir, save Chicago.’ We’re going to do that,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump borrowed from the vocabulary of Christianity to call Mr. Kirk “our greatest evangelist for American liberty,” noting that the 31-year-old sought out dialogue with opponents. “He wanted the best for them,” Mr. Trump said. “That’s where I disagree with Charlie. I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them.”
Vice-President JD Vance described Mr. Kirk, who was a personal friend, as “Athens and Jerusalem, the city of reason and the city of God – in one person.”
Speaking on the White House lawn in Washington D.C. on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump hailed Charlie Kirk as a 'great man' before flying to Arizona to attend a memorial for the conservative activist.
Reuters
“Evil still walks among us,” Mr. Vance added, saying he had no interest in “a fake kumbaya moment.”
What the U.S. needs, he argued, is “to address it head on and honestly as the sickness that it is.”
People began to arrive before midnight outside the State Farm Stadium, a National Football League venue that can seat more than 70,000. Cars with licence plates from as far away as Maine and Montana parked on nearby streets in the pre-dawn darkness. As the sun rose and temperatures climbed above 32 degrees, some fainted. Others vomited as they waited in enormous queues on black asphalt.
Before the political figures took the stage, praise-and-worship bands sang hours of hymns and biblical songs, one with the refrain: “Death is not the end. It’s only the beginning.” The stadium crowd raised their arms in unison - a form of Sunday morning church - as volunteers circled with voter registration papers.
“On this Sunday morning, I’d like to think we’re all in Charlie’s church,” said Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth. “Charlie started a political movement, but unleashed a spiritual revival.”
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His killing has driven a wave of interest in Turning Point that, conservatives hope, can have meaningful electoral consequences.
“I don’t think this dies off. I actually think this will continue to pick up steam. I think it carries through the midterms,” Mark Lamb, who was an outspoken supporter of Mr. Trump during his eight years as sheriff in Arizona’s Pinal County, said in an interview.
“It’s a movement that’s gone all over the world, and you see these folks here. This is how we celebrate Charlie. We’re not burning cities now. We’re celebrating, through goodness, through God, an avalanche of love and life.”
But the bitter wave of retribution in the wake of Mr. Kirk’s death was also visible, even inside the stadium, for anyone prepared to look. Thick black curtains covered locations for Lola’s Tacos, shuttered after its owner, an immigrant from Mexico, was accused of making critical comments on social media about Mr. Kirk, who provoked controversy with his views on racial equity and the role of women.
Color guard perform during the memorial service for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium on Sunday.Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Scholars have warned that the U.S. sits at an increasingly fragile moment, with new sounds of gunfire echoing over deep-seated political divisions.
“I am concerned that it may lead to further political violence, as the act itself and responses to it damage our already frayed norms against political violence,” said Robb Willer, director of the politics and social change lab at Stanford University.
“I am also very concerned that the administration may use this tragedy as an excuse to repress Americans’ free expression.”
For Turning Point , it remains an open question how the organization can move forward without its charismatic founder.
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On Sunday, Ms. Kirk spoke at length about her husband’s vision not merely for the country, but for families.
“To all the men watching around the world, accept Charlie’s challenge and embrace true manhood,” she said. “Be strong and courageous for your families, love your wives and lead them.” She added that a wife “is not your slave. She is your helper,” then urged women to accept their place at home.
“Be virtuous,” she said. “Our strength is found in God’s design for our role. We are the guardians. We are the encouragers. We are the preservers.”
After Mr. Trump completed his address at the end of a five-hour ceremony, he invited Ms. Kirk to the stage, kissing her on the cheek several times before she rested her head on his shoulder in a lengthy embrace.
Attendees hold up signs at Kr. Kirk's memorial service on Sunday.Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Across the country, young Americans have shown new signs of interest in the movement Mr. Kirk created.
“I went from having 12 leads all throughout New England – and then, unfortunately, when this tragic event happened, I’m dealing with over 500 leads,” said Matt Juliano, a Turning Point high school representative from New Hampshire.
He had high hopes for the memorial service.
“This is arguably going to be the most important moment in our history today,” he said. Not only has the assassination raised Mr. Kirk’s profile, “what you’re also finding is a lot more people willing to listen,” Mr. Juliano said.
David Shribman: Will Charlie Kirk’s death be a turning point for America?
Kit Waite, the northern Nevada field representative for Turning Point Action, called the memorial service “a turning point for our organization and for this country.”
Her hopes underscored the profoundly interwoven threads of church and state that Mr. Kirk worked to sew together.
“There’s going to be a revival from today,” Ms. Waite said.
“Christianity-wise. Politically wise. Conservative value-wise. This is going to change the trajectory of our country.”