News·AnalysisIt was a memorial that Charlie Kirk would likely have enjoyed, one that delved heavily into politics, religion and the enduring strength and optimistic future of of his organization.Donald Trump, JD Vance, Erika Kirk among speakersMark Gollom · CBC News · Posted: Sep 21, 2025 11:40 PM EDT | Last Updated: September 22A photo of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk is seen on a large screen during a memorial for Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (John Locher/The Associated Press)It was a memorial that Charlie Kirk would likely have enjoyed, one that delved heavily into politics, religion and the enduring strength and optimistic future of of his organization.The service, attended by some of the top U.S. political officials, including both the president and vice-president, covered a wide mix of themes. Many spoke about Turning Point USA, Kirk’s conservative outreach organization, and how it will grow even stronger in the wake of his death.Kirk was described as having sacrificed himself for the cause of free speech, debate and the greater good of the conservative movement.Indeed, alt-right activist and conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec said Kirk was a martyr for western civilization itself.The memorial offered personal reflections of Kirk, an influential but polarizing political organizer in the MAGA movement who was killed Sept. 10 while attending an event at Utah Valley University.A person raises his hands in the air during the memorial for Kirk, which at times resembled a spiritual revival meeting. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/The Associated Press)But it also seemed to be part spiritual revival and part political call to action, laced with some fiery rhetoric against perceived political enemies, while tempered with messages of forgiveness — depending on who was speaking.U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance were among the speakers for the event, held at the 70,000 plus capacity State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., which was easily filled with Kirk’s many supporters.In addition to the tens of thousands of people in person, more than 400,000 were watching live on Kirk’s YouTube channel. Since Kirk’s death, his podcast and social media feeds have attracted millions of new followers, according to The Associated Press.Thousands had flocked to the stadium in the very early morning, waiting hours in line hoping to gain entry to the event.Religion was certainly a key theme of the event. Kirk was an evangelical Protestant, and a series of top evangelical musicians performed. But many of the speakers, from Secretary of State Marco Rubio to podcaster Tucker Carlson, made the topic of faith and love of Jesus a main element of their addresses.Carlson said Kirk knew politics couldn’t answer the deepest questions, and he believed the only real solution is worshipping Jesus and the only change that matters is repentance. Trump as well touched on some of those faith-based themes during his 40-minutes speech, which had some people, whose day had begun in the early hours waiting in line, heading for exits before he wrapped up.’Martyr for American freedom’Like many of Trump’s speeches, it meandered into a range ot topics, including an upcoming announcement about a new treatment for autism. Trump far exceeded the time taken by the other speakers, who kept their addresses tight and limited to about five minutes.U.S. President Donald Trump, left, stands with Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, at the conclusion of a memorial for her husband, on Sunday. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/The Associated Press)Trump was the last speaker to take the stage, saying Kirk is now immortal, and a “martyr for American freedom.”He joked that he had at least one disagreement with Kirk, that the conservative activist preached to embrace your opponents, whereas the president “hated” his.His son Donald Trump Jr. got the crowd laughing by doing an imitation of his father criticizing his son for “getting a little aggressive on social media.” But he also riled up the crowd to stand and fight against their political enemies.”Will you surrender? Will you back down? Will give up in fear,” Trump Jr. asked, to which the reply was a loud “No!” each time.Benny Johnson, a popular right-wing commentator and YouTuber, called for the Trump administration to carry out a “godly mission of wielding the sword against evil.” Johnson said the memorial wasn’t a funeral, but a “revival.”Deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller delivers a fiery speech at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz. (Ross D. Franklin/The Associated PRess)Perhaps the most fiery of speeches came from deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, who took aim at perceived political enemies. Miller said that the fire of Kirk supporters burns with a “righteous fury” that their enemies cannot comprehend. He said they will prevail over the “forces of wickedness and evil” and that their enemies “can’t conceive the army that they have arisen.”‘Love our enemies’That tone however, was in contrast to Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, whose emotional address was likely the most memorable of the service. She began by describing the horror of arriving at the hospital to see her “husband’s murdered body.”But she also said she saw the faintest smile on his lips, which told her that “Charlie didn’t suffer” and revealed to her “a great mercy from God.”And she spoke about forgiveness, most significantly that she forgives the person suspected of killing her husband.WATCH | Erika Kirk says she forgives her husband’s alleged killer: Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, says she forgives husband’s alleged killerErika Kirk, the widow of MAGA influencer and Trump ally Charlie Kirk, said she forgives her husband’s alleged killer. She said it’s because of what Christ did and what her husband would have done. She said the answer to hate is not hate but love, and to “love our enemies.”Meanwhile, Kirk’s own political influence was acknowledged. Kirk founded Turning Point as a grassroots movement to mobilize young, Christian conservatives. It became a multimillion-dollar operation under his leadership and has chapters on college campuses all over the United States. It was credited with helping return Trump to office, a point not forgotten by the vice-president.Vance noted that the whole Trump administration was in attendance, and it wasn’t just because they loved Kirk — but because they know they wouldn’t be where they are today without him.ABOUT THE AUTHORMark Gollom is a Toronto-based reporter with CBC News. He covers Canadian and U.S. politics and current affairs. With files from Verity Stevenson and Franny Karlinsky
Charlie Kirk memorial delivers heavy mix of politics and religion. He likely would have approved
