The public memorial service and funeral for Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, who was killed last week, will be held in Arizona on Sunday morning amid tight security.
Many members of the Trump administration will be at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix, home to Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA.
The stadium is home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and has a capacity of 63,000 people, expandable to over 73,000 for larger events. The nearby Desert Diamond Arena will serve as overflow and can accommodate an additional 19,000 people.
Admission is free and on a first-come, first-served basis, though attendees are encouraged to register for tickets. The event will be streamed on Kirk’s Rumble account and broadcast by some news outlets.
In addition to the president, other speakers include Vice President JD Vance; Marco Rubio, Secretary of State; Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense; Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence; Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff; and Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff.
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, who has taken on leadership of Turning Point USA, is also set to address attendees.
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Key points
- Public memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk scheduled for Sunday morning
- Crowd of 73,000 expected at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with 19,000 in overflow
- Trump, Vance and other administration officials set to speak
- Heightened security expected following Kirk's assassination
Who is speaking at Charlie Kirk's memorial service?
10:00
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Oliver O'Connell
According to Turning Point USA, Sunday’s memorial service for Charlie Kirk will feature remarks by his widow, Erika Kirk, who is now leading the organization, as well as President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
In addition to the president, other speakers include Marco Rubio, Secretary of State; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health & Human Services; Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense; Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence; Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff; Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff; and Sergio Gor, Director of Personnel.
There will also be remarks from Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump Jr.
Worship will be led by Christian singers Chris Tomlin, Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, Kari Jobe Carnes, and Cody Carnes.
There will also be performances by Lee Greenwood and Steve Amerson.
The Charlie Kirk comment that got Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show axed
09:00
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Oliver O'Connell
Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show has been pulled from schedules due to his comments about Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting.
US network ABC revealed that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would not be broadcast “indefinitely” after the host made controversial implications about the identity of Tyler Robinson, the suspected gunman behind the killing of the conservative activist.
Jacon Stolworthy reports on the comment that got Kimmel in hot water.
State Farm Stadium: The venue hosting Charlie Kirk's memorial service today
08:00
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Oliver O'Connell
The memorial for conservative icon Charlie Kirk will be held on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The 31-year-old Kirk — a confidant of President Donald Trump — was fatally shot on Sept. 10 while speaking with students at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with aggravated murder and other crimes related to the shooting.
Here are a few things to know about the venue that will host Kirk's memorial service:
Watch: AOC condemns cancelling Kimmel and the 'weaponisation' of Charlie Kirk's murder
07:00
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Oliver O'Connell
The wave of bizarre AI images flooding social media after Charlie Kirk’s killing
06:00
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Oliver O'Connell
Megachurch pastor Jack Graham was in the middle of his Sunday message to Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, this past weekend when he paused to cue up an unusual sermon illustration. After encouraging people to respond to the killing of conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk by turning to God, he instructed the congregation to listen to a roughly minute-long audio clip of what sounded like Kirk delivering a short speech.
“Hear what Charlie is saying regarding what happened to him this past week,” Graham said.
As the clip, which encouraged listeners to “pick up your cross, and get back in the fight,” ended, the congregation burst into applause. A few seconds later, they rose to their feet in a standing ovation.
But the clip they listened to was not, in fact, Charlie Kirk from beyond the grave. As Graham made clear when he introduced the segment, the congregation was listening to a production generated entirely by artificial intelligence: The clip, which has gone viral online, was a cloned version of Kirk’s voice delivering what appeared to be an AI-generated response from a chatbot asked what Kirk would say in the wake of his own death.
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Watch: Charlie Kirk likened to St Paul by New York Cardinal
05:00
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Oliver O'Connell
Members of Congress take steps to tighten their own security after Kirk's killing
04:00
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Oliver O'Connell
As House Speaker Mike Johnson gathered lawmakers this week to mourn Charlie Kirk, he summed up the grief felt by many on Capitol Hill — and the pervasive fear.
“For so many of us, it has felt as if the ground was shaken,” said Johnson, R-La.
The killing of Kirk, the prominent conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder, has unnerved lawmakers in both parties, amplifying their long-standing concerns about safety in a heated political climate where threats against political rivals and calls to violence have become frighteningly common.
Read on...
Kirk’s spiritual mentor details activist’s final moments
03:00
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Oliver O'Connell
Charlie Kirk’s spiritual mentor has recounted the shocking moments after the right wing commentator was shot and how he was rushed to the hospital in a car that still had a door swinging open.
Frank Turek, a Christian author, was just yards away talking to his daughter on FaceTime when the fatal shot was fired, causing Kirk to fall backwards off his chair, bleeding heavily from his neck.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Report: Military leaders are considering recruitment campaign based around Charlie Kirk
02:30
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Oliver O'Connell
Military leaders are considering a recruitment campaign geared towards honoring the legacy of conservative activist and Trump ally Charlie Kirk, according to a new report.
Rachel Dobkin has the story.
COMMENT: Cancelling Jimmy Kimmel reveals the crude truth about Trump’s definition of free speech
02:00
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Oliver O'Connell
Simon Walters writes:
Nothing reveals Donald Trump’s double standards on free speech more emphatically than the way the Jimmy Kimmel TV show in America has been taken off air.
Talk show host Kimmel was dropped after accusing the “Maga gang of trying to score political points” off the murder of Charlie Kirk and mocking Trump’s reaction to it as “how a four-year-old mourns the death of a goldfish”. You can question Kimmel’s sense of taste, but you would expect a champion of free speech to leap to his defence.
Trump has done the opposite and even took time out during his state visit to Britain to post his approval of Kimmel’s silencing on his Truth Social platform.
No one has ever accused Trump of having a sense of irony. But you would like to think that he paused for just a moment to consider the inconsistency of praising the virtues of free speech in his Windsor Castle banquet speech, and shortly afterwards celebrating the demise of someone for exercising that supposed cherished freedom.
Continue reading...
Who is speaking at Charlie Kirk's memorial service?
01:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
According to Turning Point USA, Sunday’s memorial service for Charlie Kirk will feature remarks by his widow, Erika Kirk, who is now leading the organization, as well as President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
In addition to the president, other speakers include Marco Rubio, Secretary of State; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health & Human Services; Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense; Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence; Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff; Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff; and Sergio Gor, Director of Personnel.
There will also be remarks from Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump Jr.
Worship will be led by Christian singers Chris Tomlin, Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, Kari Jobe Carnes, and Cody Carnes.
There will also be performances by Lee Greenwood and Steve Amerson.
TPUSA says armed man arrested at State Farm Stadium was doing 'advance security' for guest
Sunday 21 September 2025 00:50
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Katie Hawkinson
A spokesperson for Charlie Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA, said the armed man arrested at State Farm Stadium today was “doing advance security for a known guest” who is planning to attend the memorial tomorrow.
“We do not believe this person was attempting anything nefarious, however the advance was not done in proper coordination with the TPUSA security team or US Secret Service,” Andrew Kolvet wrote on X. “Also important to note that this was before the site had been fully sealed and locked down. Every precaution is being taken to ensure everyone’s safety.”
Disney execs and Kimmel haggled over response to FCC Charlie Kirk complaint, report says
Sunday 21 September 2025 00:30
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Oliver O'Connell
Jimmy Kimmel and Disney execs could not agree on the correct response to take in the fallout from the comedian’s remarks about the death of Charlie Kirk, resulting in the cancellation of his late night show, reports say.
Kimmel was reportedly due to make a statement during Wednesday’s show, but neither side could agree on language that would not exacerbate the situation further by the time taping was due to begin, sources told Reuters.
Mike Bedigan reports.
Watch: Church gives standing ovation to AI audio clip of Charlie Kirk
Saturday 20 September 2025 23:45
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Oliver O'Connell
White House press secretary now has her own Secret Service detail: report
Saturday 20 September 2025 23:00
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Oliver O'Connell
The Trump administration is taking steps to protect its highest-profile spokesperson in the wake of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to a new report.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was granted a Secret Service protective detail in recent days, CBS News reported, citing “multiple sources familiar with the matter.”
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, D.C.
Heightened security for funeral as Trump administration set to show up in force
Saturday 20 September 2025 22:40
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Oliver O'Connell
Turning Point USA has warned those wanting to attend Sunday’s memorial service at State Farm Stadium that “enhanced security measures are in place, which may result in longer wait times than usual.”
“We appreciate your patience and understanding,” the group says on its website.
The event will be on a first-come, first-served basis based on stadium capacity. Indoor overflow will be available next door at the Desert Diamond Arena.
With so many administration officials set to attend and speak, security is especially tight.
TP USA also advises that there will be a no bag policy in effect.
“Guests arriving with bags, even clear bags, will NOT be permitted entry. You will be required to return the bag to your vehicle and rejoin the line from the end.”
Report: Feds have found no links between Kirk assassination suspect and left-wing groups
Saturday 20 September 2025 22:20
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Oliver O'Connell
Federal investigators have found no evidence linking Tyler Robinson , who is accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk, to left-wing groups, despite claims from former President Donald Trump and his administration , three sources tell NBC News.
The trio of insiders is reportedly familiar with the probe into the case, which, as of now, appears to revolve around Robinson, 22, acting alone.
Erin Keller reports.
Watch: Sheriff recounts phone call from detective who found Kirk's killer
Saturday 20 September 2025 22:00
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Oliver O'Connell
Full story: Van Jones says Charlie Kirk sent him unexpected final message a day before his assassination
Saturday 20 September 2025 21:45
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Oliver O'Connell
CNN analyst Van Jones revealed Saturday that the day before Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at an outdoor college debate event, the conservative activist had messaged him inviting him onto his show.
The liberal pundit believes Kirk’s final text to him offers a powerful message about debating and managing political disagreements.
Read on...
IN FOCUS: The sinister role of ‘black-pilling’ in the murder of Charlie Kirk
Saturday 20 September 2025 21:30
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Oliver O'Connell
Chloe Combi writes:
In the reporting of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who was murdered in front of mostly college- and university-age students on 10 September at Utah Valley University, many have rushed to ascribe both motive and political ideology to Tyler Robinson, who has been charged with his murder. However, much of this has been wide of the mark – hugely missing the point about the strange and deeply complex online world that 22-year-old Robinson, and many youngsters like him, was immersed in.
Online subculture shot into the global conversation in March 2025 when the Netflix hit show Adolescence brought the term “red-pilling” into the mainstream. In the broadest terms, red-pilling means having your eyes opened to a hidden or uncomfortable truth, often about politics, society, or gender. The term is frequently used in far-right or conspiracy theory communities to describe someone being “liberated” from notions of equality, feminism, and “wokeness”. But what this conversation missed was how “black-pilling”, the darker and stranger cousin of red-pilling, is an even bigger threat – and is present in both far-right and far-left online culture.
Continue reading...
Watch: Obama says one role of president is to remind Americans what ties them together
Saturday 20 September 2025 21:15
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Oliver O'Connell
In a moment like this, when tensions are high, part of the job of the president is to remind us of the ties that bind us together. pic.twitter.com/4TGMufay1k
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 20, 2025
Profile: Charlie Kirk's family
Saturday 20 September 2025 21:00
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Oliver O'Connell
Joe Sommerlad and Josh Marcus take a look at the family of the late conservative activist as they prepare for his public memorial tomorrow.