Donald Trump has paid tribute to Charlie Kirk at a memorial service in Arizona, describing the conservative activist as “one of the brightest lights of our times” and vowing to carry on his work.
Thousands gathered at the packed stadium to honour the Turning Point USA founder, who was killed less than two weeks ago in what police have called a politically motivated attack.
Addressing the mourners, President Trump said America was “a nation in grief, a nation in shock and a nation in mourning” following Kirk’s death.
Trump described learning of the activist’s killing as a “surreal experience”, telling the audience he had asked staff to leave the Oval Office when the news reached him.
“Charlie Kirk was heinously murdered by a radicalised, cold-blooded monster for speaking the truth that was in his heart,” Trump said.
The president recalled one of his last conversations with the 30-year-old, in which Kirk urged him to tackle violence in Chicago. “One of the last things he said to me was: ‘Please, sir, save Chicago’. We’re going to do that,” Trump told the crowd.
He credited Kirk with helping to put issues such as “online censorship, free speech and cancel culture” at the centre of America’s political debate.
Kirk rose to prominence after founding Turning Point USA in 2012, building it into a powerful organisation on US college campuses that mobilised young conservative voters and frequently clashed with left-leaning student groups.
His sudden death has sent shockwaves through the Republican movement, with supporters hailing him as a “warrior for free speech” and critics noting his role in polarising political discourse.
According to investigators, Kirk was targeted by a man described by authorities as a radicalised assailant. Police said the suspect has been arrested, but the motive is still being pieced together.
Tributes from across the conservative spectrum have poured in since the killing, including from senior Republican figures who credited Kirk with reshaping the party’s grassroots appeal to younger voters.
At the memorial, family members remembered him as a devoted husband and friend, while supporters held banners declaring “Justice for Charlie” and “Carry the Torch”.
Trump used the occasion to promise a crackdown on violent crime, telling the audience his administration would “save America’s cities” from lawlessness.
However, the former president also faced criticism, with opponents accusing him of politicising the tragedy. Civil rights groups argued that his administration’s push to regulate online platforms in the wake of Kirk’s death amounted to censorship of left-leaning voices.
Government officials have threatened to sanction broadcasters, companies and individuals accused of spreading what they term “hate speech”, a move condemned by free speech advocates.
The debate has intensified in recent days, with Kirk’s supporters framing his death as an attack on conservative voices, while critics warned against exploiting the killing for political gain.
For many at the service, however, the focus remained on Kirk’s legacy. Supporters described him as a tireless campaigner who dedicated his life to what he saw as the defence of American freedoms.
As the crowd applauded Trump’s remarks, one mourner summed up the mood: “Charlie inspired a generation. His voice may have been silenced, but his message will live on.”
M10News Politics Desk | Contact: politics@m10news.com
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