Charlie Kirk funeral live: Donald Trump, JD Vance, Erika Kirk address memorial
Top Republicans, US President address memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Key Events
‘He will live forever’: Trump says Charlie Kirk a ‘martyr’
US President Donald Trump has echoed other speakers at Charlie Kirk’s memorial by calling Kirk a “martyr”.
Charlie Kirk’s “name will live forever in the eternal chronicle of America’s greatest patriots, he will live forever,” he said.
US President Donald Trump addresses Charlie Kirk memorial: ‘Shock and mourning’
US President Donld Trump is addressing the crowd of tens of thousands of mourners at Charlie Kirk’s memorial
“Less than two weeks ago, our country was robbed of one of the brightest flights of our times, a giant of his generation, and above all, a devoted husband, father, son, Christian and patriot, Charles James Kirk was heinously murdered by a radicalized, cold Blooded monster, for speaking the truth,” he said.
“That was in his heart he was violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice for God, country for reason, and for common sense.”
Erika Kirk forgives husband’s alleged murderer: ‘The answer to hate is not hate’
Charlie Kirk’s wife says she forgives the alleged murderer of her husand.
Kirk, 31, was killed with a single bullet as he answered an audience member’s question at a campus event in Utah organised by Turning Point.
“On the cross, our savior said: ‘Father, forgive them for they not know what they do.’
“That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and it is 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 describes seeing her husband in hospital: ‘Shock, horror’
“God’s love was revealed to me on the very day my husband was murdered. On the afternoon of September 10, I arrived at a Utah hospital to do the unthinkable, to look directly at my husband’s murdered body.
“I saw the wound that ended his life. I felt everything he would expect to feel. I felt shock. I felt horror, and a level of heartache that I didn’t even know existed. But there was something else too. Even in death, I could see the man that I love… I also saw on his lips the faintest smile…
“Even the doctor told me there was something so instant that even if Charlie had been shot in the operating room itself, nothing could have been done. There was no pain, there was no fear, no agony. One moment Charlie was doing what he loved, arguing and debating on campus, fighting for the gospel and truth in front of a big crowd, then he blinked. He blinked and saw his savior in paradise.”
Erika Kirk addresses crowd of emotional mourners
A crowd of mourners has cheered as Charlie Kirk’s widow Erika took the stage to speak about her late husband.
“The greatest cause in Charlie’s life was trying to revive the American family. When he spoke to young people, he was always eager to tell them about God’s vision for marriage and how if they could just dare to live it out, it would enrich every part of their life in the same way that it enriched ours.
“And someone once asked me how Charlie and I how we kept our marriage so strong when he was busy traveling. Our little secret, it was love notes. Every Saturday, Charlie wrote one for me, and he never missed a Saturday. And in every single one of them, he’d tell me what his highlight was for the week, how grateful he was for me and our babies, and always at the end, he would always end it with asking the most beautiful question.
“He’d always end it by asking, please, let me know how I can better serve you as a husband.
“Charlie perfectly understood God’s role for a Christian husband, a man who leads so that they can serve you.”
US Vice President JD Vance delivers emotional speech
US Vice President JD Vance delivered a heartfelt and defiant speech at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service in Glendale, Arizona, calling the event not a funeral but a “revival” of Kirk’s legacy and faith.
Standing before a crowd at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, Mr Vance said, “The evil murderer who took Charlie from us expected us to have a funeral today, and instead, my friends, we have had a revival and celebration of Charlie Kirk and his Lord, Jesus Christ.”
Mr Vance emphasised the resilience of Kirk’s movement: “They tried to silence my — our — friend, Charlie Kirk. Today, we speak for Charlie louder than ever.”
Highlighting the presence of key figures, Mr Vance noted, “The whole administration is here because it was Kirk who helped them get there.”
