Charlie Kirk Memorial Service on September 21. Image: Fox News.
(The Post News) – On Sunday, nearly 100,000 mourners filled State Farm Stadium in Arizona to honor the life of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The highly publicized memorial service garnered international attention and featured several notable moments. Among them were speeches from U.S. President Donald Trump and Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, as well as the much-discussed potential reunion between billionaire Elon Musk and the president.
Erika Forgives Kirk’s Shooter
Grief-stricken Erika Kirk, introduced by President Donald Trump, appeared wearing an all-white suit and the pendant her husband had worn when he was shot. She revealed that the cross still had traces of his blood.
On September 10, the 31-year-old father of two was targeted and fatally shot at Utah State University. Twenty-two-year-old Tyler Robinson was arrested after his father turned him in, with evidence quickly linking him to the shooting during the two-day investigation. Evidence suggested the shooting was politically motivated.
Erica recalled seeing her husband’s body in the hospital and being told that his death was instantaneous. She expressed that the doctors said nothing could have been done even if he had been shot in the operating room.
She recalled the faint smile on his face, calling it similar to the “Mona Lisa.” She got some level of closure from this, adding, “Like he died happy. Like Jesus rescued him. The bullet came, he blinked, and he was in heaven.”
Holding back tears, she said, “That young man, I forgive him.” She explained that forgiveness is what Christ would do and what her husband had always stood for—transforming young people like the shooter. She insisted that the answer to hate could never be more hate.
Trump Called Kirk an Evangelist, Highlights “Hate” for Opponents
Contrary to Erika’s speech, President Donald Trump disagreed with the widow and Kirk, insisting on hating his enemies. He apologized to Erika, adding that he doesn’t want what’s best for his opponents, unlike the Kirk.
He called Kirk “our evangelist for American liberty,” who died at the hands of a “radicalized monster.” He denounced political violence and vowed that the Justice Department would crack down on organizations that inspire such attacks.
The president placed blame on left-wing groups, remaining insistent that they were fueling division and hatred. On September 18, the Trump administration announced that the anti-fascism movement Antifa will be designated as a “major terrorist organization.”
Speakers Memorialize Kirk as a ‘Martyr.’ Whose Movement Will Go On
Conservative and Republican speakers like Charlie Kirk’s long-time friend Vice President JD Vance, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, and the president praised his work at Turning Point USA. They added that his work was crucial to American politics and would continue even after his death.
Charlie Kirk founded Turning Point USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging youth by debating and advocating for conservative principles across different school levels and digital platforms. The speakers hailed his martyrdom in this work and vowed to immortalize it.
Trump Teases Autism Breakthrough at The Memorial
In a surprise turn, President Trump used the memorial stage to hint at a major upcoming announcement. He told the crowd that on Monday a news conference would be held to reveal what he described as the “answer” to autism.
“I think you’re going to find it to be amazing,” Trump said, urging the mourning audience to stay tuned.
Trump Reunites with Elon Musk at The Memorial
President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk were photographed together at the memorial for the first time in months since the pair had their public back-and-forth. Kirk had publicly expressed his wish for the once-close pair to reconcile, dating back to their falling-out in June.
After the memorial, Musk posted the photo on X, captioning it simply: “For Charlie.” The post quickly went viral with 714 thousand likes and 65 thousand reposts. It is unclear if this means that the pair are officially reunited or if this is a one-time reconciliation in the name of a friend.
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