A memorial service for MAGA activist Charlie Kirk on Sunday drew a massive crowd at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, where US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other prominent MAGA allies paid tribute to the slain figure.

Officials estimated that about 100,000 people gathered in and around the stadium. Many attendees lined up before dawn to secure seats, and by the end of the 12-hour program, some left as Trump delivered his remarks.

Security for the event was set at the highest federal level, typically reserved for occasions such as the Super Bowl. A senior Department of Homeland Security official said the designation reflected Trump’s presence and the political tensions surrounding Kirk’s killing.

Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on September 10 during a campus event in Utah. The suspected gunman, 22, has been charged with murder. Investigators say he told his partner in text messages that he targeted Kirk because he had “enough of his hate.”

The killing has fueled concerns over the rise of politically motivated violence in the United States while deepening partisan divides. Trump, a close ally of Kirk’s, has used the assassination to intensify calls for a crackdown on left-wing groups, despite investigators stating the suspect acted alone.

The snowball effect 

The fallout widened last week when Disney’s ABC network suspended late-night host Jimmy Kimmel after conservatives denounced comments he made about how Republicans handled Kirk’s death. The move came hours after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, threatened regulatory action against the network. Critics, including civil rights organizations, Democrats, and media groups, accused the administration of exploiting Kirk’s death to stifle dissent in violation of free speech protections.

Sunday’s memorial, titled “Building a Legacy: Remembering Charlie Kirk,” featured a roster of high-profile speakers that organizers said underscored "Kirk’s influence as the leader of the nation’s largest conservative youth organization". Alongside Trump and Vance, speakers included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy. Kirk’s widow, Erika, who last week was named chief executive of Turning Point USA, also addressed the audience.

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Kirk rose to prominence through his savvy use of social media, talk radio, and combative campus tours, often inviting skeptical students to debate him. Through his organization Turning Point USA, he has sought to spread conservative values on college campuses and mobilize a new generation of right-leaning voters.

He is also known for his unwavering support for "Israel", positioning himself as one of the most vocal defenders of the occupation within the US conservative movement.

Kirk was among the first of his generation to harness social media platforms to shape US public opinion, using them to amplify both pro-"Israel" narratives and far-right political causes.

Trump uses Kirk memorial to attack opponents, praise Conservative Movement

US President Donald Trump declined to deliver a unifying message at Sunday’s memorial, instead telling the crowd of tens of thousands: "He did not hate his opponents...That's where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponents."

In a wide-ranging address that mixed tribute with political grievance, Trump praised Kirk as an “American martyr” and “a giant of his generation.” He also strayed into unrelated issues, vowing to send troops to Chicago, previewing what he described as a major autism initiative, and denouncing the controversy surrounding ABC’s suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Throughout his remarks, the president targeted the “radical left” and former US President Joe Biden, delivering a speech that at times resembled a campaign rally more than a memorial.

The event also drew the attention of Elon Musk, who was seen meeting Trump on the sidelines. The two men shook hands months after a public falling out, signaling a possible thaw in their relationship.

'A warrior for Christ'

Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, used her remarks to publicly forgive the man accused of killing her husband. “That man, that young man, I forgive him,” she told the audience. “I forgive him because it was what Christ did and it is what Charlie would do.”

Vice President JD Vance emphasized Kirk’s belief in faith and family, telling attendees, “He brought the truth that marriage and family were the highest callings, far more important than any job or educational credential.” Other speakers also leaned heavily on religious and political themes. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cast Kirk as a “warrior for Christ,” while Secretary of State Marco Rubio compared him to historic figures, including Jesus.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller went further still, addressing unnamed “enemies” with the declaration: “You are nothing. You are wickedness.”

Donald Trump Jr. struck a different note, insisting that conservatives “don’t silence” opponents, even as he defended actions taken against journalists, entertainers, and others who had made what officials and employers considered “inappropriate” remarks about Kirk. He singled out Kimmel, who was pulled off the air last week following backlash over comments about the activist’s death.