Trump Hails Charlie Kirk as ‘Martyr,’ Turns Memorial Into Political Rally

Former president Donald Trump on Sunday hailed slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a “martyr for American freedom” at a memorial service in Arizona, while again blaming the “radical left” for Kirk’s murder without evidence.

Kirk, 31, was shot dead last week during a campus event in Utah. A 22-year-old student has been charged, though investigators say the motive remains unclear.

The memorial, organized by Kirk’s youth group Turning Point USA, drew tens of thousands of supporters clad in red, white and blue who packed State Farm Stadium in Glendale. Part religious revival and part political rally, the service featured Christian rock music, conservative leaders, and fiery speeches from Trump allies.

Kirk’s widow, Erika, who has stepped in to lead Turning Point, delivered an emotional tribute to her late husband. “While Charlie died far too early, he was also ready to die,” she said, before offering forgiveness to the accused gunman. “My husband Charlie wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life.”

Trump’s address, however, was the most divisive of the day. “The violence comes largely from the left,” he said, dismissing concerns about right-wing extremism and drawing a sharp contrast with speakers who had avoided blame-casting. At one point, he remarked: “He did not hate his opponents. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponents.”

Other high-profile speakers included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Vance credited Kirk with mobilizing young voters to help elect Trump in 2024. “We wouldn’t be here without him,” he said.

The memorial underscored both Kirk’s political influence and the deepening polarization his death has exposed. Civil rights groups long criticized him for rhetoric they described as racist and anti-LGBTQ, while supporters praised him as a defender of free speech and Christian values.

Experts warn his killing — and Trump’s rhetoric surrounding it — could fuel further political violence at a time of heightened partisan tension in the United States.