Trump Praises Charlie Kirk as ‘Martyr’ at Stadium Funeral
Glendale, AZ – Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday praised the late Charlie Kirk as a “martyr” for the conservative movement during a memorial service held at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals. The event, organized by Kirk’s organization Turning Point USA, drew an estimated 200,000 registered attendees, exceeding the stadium’s 63,000-person capacity, with overflow accommodated at nearby Desert Diamond Arena, which holds 19,000.
Trump’s remarks came after the death of Kirk sparked both mourning and festivity online, leading the Trump Administration to announce a crackdown on left-wing groups.The response has ignited debate surrounding political violence and free speech.
A diverse array of political figures joined Trump in paying tribute, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Donald Trump Jr. Former fox News host Tucker Carlson, who has publicly disagreed with trump on foreign policy matters, also spoke at the event.
Attendees were greeted with posters displaying the biblical verse Isaiah 6:8 (“Here I am, Lord, send me!”) alongside a portrait of Kirk. Each seat was also adorned with a bracelet reading “We Are Charlie Kirk,” and Christian music played as attendees entered the stadium.
