Nepal Verified News
Mon Sep 22 2025
US President Donald Trump has hailed conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a “great American hero” and a “martyr” during a memorial service in Arizona attended by tens of thousands of people, the BBC reported.
The event, held at the State Farm Stadium near Phoenix on Sunday, drew nearly 100,000 mourners, with many wearing MAGA hats and waving US flags. The atmosphere often resembled a political rally, complete with Christian music, singalongs, and chants of “U-S-A”.
Kirk, 31, was shot dead on September 10 while debating at a Utah university. Speakers, including Vice-President JD Vance, senior Trump administration officials, and members of Kirk’s organisation Turning Point USA, repeatedly described him as a martyr whose activism would inspire a new generation of conservatives.
Trump, the headline speaker, told the crowd: “He was assassinated because he lived bravely, he lived boldly, and he argued brilliantly.” At one point, Elon Musk, who recently reconciled with Trump, was seen shaking hands with the president before posting a tribute online captioned, “For Charlie.”
Kirk’s wife, Erika, delivered an emotional address, announcing she would take over as CEO of Turning Point USA. She told mourners she had forgiven her husband’s accused killer, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, saying: “The answer to hate is not hate. I forgive him because it is what Christ did.”
The memorial, which lasted more than five hours, underscored both Kirk’s influence among young conservatives and the deepening political divides in the US. While supporters praised his legacy as a free-speech advocate and youth mobiliser for Trump, critics noted the administration’s use of his death to push for a crackdown on what it calls the “radical left.”
Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA at 18 and built a massive following online. He was known for fiery debates on college campuses, strong support for Trump, opposition to abortion and transgender rights, and his controversial claims about Covid-19.
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