President Donald Trump stands with Erika Kurk at the conclusion of a memorial for her husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. (AP Photo)
During the memorial service and funeral for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead during an event at a Utah university on September 10, US President Donald Trump called the suspected killer “radicalized, cold-blooded monster” in the opening remarks of his speech in Arizona. Trump said, on Sunday, that Kirk was “violently killed” because he spoke for freedom and justice.
The event being held at State Farm Stadium outside Phoenix in Arizona drew some of the most powerful and religious voices in the country, including President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Kirk’s widow Erika and several others including key members of the Trump administration. More than 63,000 people had gathered at the event who filled the stadium to the capacity to honor and mourn Kirk.
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President Donald Trump, seen on a stadium screen, speaks at a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. (AP Photo)
Addressing the people from the dias, Trump said Charlie could always draw a crowd, adding, “He was assassinated because he lived bravely, he lived boldly and he argued brilliantly.”
While highlighting that Kirk belonged to a suburb in Chicago, Trump told the crowd that one of the last things the 31-year-old activist told him was “please sir, save Chicago”. “We’re going to do that, we’re going to save Chicago from horrible crime,” the US president stated.
President Donald J. Trump honors Charlie Kirk ❤️
“We go forward strengthened by his faith, bolstered by his courage, and inspired by his example to defend the country he lived for, for the freedoms he died for, and the values in which he so deeply believed.” pic.twitter.com/cwPCEDXO8o
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 21, 2025
Trump noted that Kirk didn’t hate his opponents and wanted best for them, but the US president differed with the deceased activist, saying “That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent. And I don’t want the best for them.”
Trump, who spoke minutes after Erika Kirk declared from the podium that she forgave the alleged assassin, received hearty applause from the crowd after celebrating Charlie Kirk’s “will to fight, fight, fight”.
Trump said, “The lesson of Charlie’s life is that you should never underestimate what one person can do with a good heart, a righteous cause, a cheerful spirit and the will to fight, fight, fight.”
Kirk, 31, ran a youth voter turnout organization for Republicans known as Turning Point USA. He was a known figure among the college students and Republicans.
(with inputs from BBC, CNN)
