Updated Sep 21, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Scenes from Charlie Kirk's memorial service

Rebecca Falconer

A gray-haired, tanned President Trump, wearing a navy jacket, white shirt and red tie, hugs Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, wearing a white jacket and long, bleached blonde hair, as she closes her eyes onstage at her husband's memorial service. — President Trump and Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, onstage during the memorial service for the conservative activist at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Charlie Kirk's memorial service at State Farm Stadium was attended by tens of thousands of people in Glendale, Arizona, Sunday.

The big picture: Erika Kirk, the conservative activist's widow who replaced him as CEO of Turning Point USA, said at the State Farm Stadium service that "now his mission is my mission." She said she forgives the suspect in her husband's killing.

President Trump, wearing a navy jacket with a US flag pin, white shirt and red tie, purses his lips as he speaks during the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, in front of a Turning Point USA sign. — "He's a martyr now for America's freedom," Trump said during his tribute to Kirk onstage at the stadium. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

A couple hugs as US President Donald Trump speaks at the public memorial service for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on September 21, 2025. — "Charlie was actually a master builder, master builder of people," Trump said. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

President Trump, wearing a navy suit, white shirt and red tie, grins as he walks onstage to sparks exuding from the floor in front of a Turning Point Action sign, with the words in gold against a red background during Kirk's memorial service. — "He was violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice, for God, country, for reason, and for common sense," Trump said of Kirk. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Bald singer Lee Greenwood, wearing a black jacket and white shirt, clasps a black mic as he sings at Kirk's memorial service as sparks fly from the floor in front of a Turning Point USA sign. — Singer Lee Greenwood performs during Kirk's memorial service. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon /AFP via Getty Images

A tearful, bleached blonde-haired Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, wipes away tears from her blue eyes at his memorial service, while wearing a white jacket, black top and thick, gold bracelets and diamond rings. — A tearful Erika Kirk said during her tribute she "saw on his lips the faintest smile" on her husband's lifeless body. "That told me something important. It revealed to me a great mercy from God from this tragedy. When I saw that, it told me Charlie didn't suffer." Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Two big screens above a gathered crowd and below two large flags either side of a sign saying "Remembering Charlie Kirk" showing a blonde-haired Erika Kirk, wearing a white jacket and black top, speaking into a black mic during the memorial service for her husband. — Erika Kirk vowed to expand Turning Point USA. "Campus events will continue and we will continue to hold debates and dialogue," she said. Her late husband was holding one such debate at Utah Valley University when he was fatally shot earlier this month. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

President Trump, dressed in a black suit, white shirt and red tie, smiles as he raises his right fist as he attends the memorial service of Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium. — After Erika Kirk urged people to love their enemies, Trump railed against the "radical left" and said: "I hate my opponent and I don't want the best for them. Sorry, Erika." Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Vice President JD Vance gestures as he stands on stage during the memorial service for political activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium. — Vice President JD Vance onstage during the memorial service urged those gathered to remember Kirk as "a hero" to the U.S. and as "a martyr for the Christian faith." Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

A gray-haired Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. speaking at a podium in front of a Turning Point USA sign onstage at Charlie Kirk's memorial service. — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. remembered Kirk during the memorial service as a free speech champion who "changed the trajectory of history." Photo: Eric Thayer/Getty Images

President Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk shake hands during Kirk's memorial service. Photo: Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

A big screen at Charlie Kirk's memorial service showing Donald Trump, Jr. making a fist with his right hand as he speaks at the podium of State Farm Stadium. — Donald Trump Jr. said at the memorial service that his friend's "legacy must be that when they took his life, a million more Charlies stepped up to fill the void." Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Attendees hold up signs at the memorial service for political activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium on September 21. — Attendees hold up signs at the memorial service for Kirk. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The president speaks with Dana White, CEO and president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Dana White, at Kirk's memorial service. — The president speaks with Dana White, CEO and president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), at Kirk's memorial service. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

People attending the Kirk memorial service, including an African American man in a navy suit, white shirt and red tie, holding his hands aloft in prayer (front, L) and a young blonde woman who rests her head on the shoulder of a young man with dark hair (front right). — People attending the Kirk memorial service. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

People arrive for Charlie Kirk's memorial service, including a man in a white hat (C) wearing a gray t-shirt with the words "A TRUE PATRIOT" in white above photos of the conservative activist. — People arrive for Kirk's memorial service. Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Attendees await the start of the memorial service for political activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. — Attendees await the start of Kirk's memorial service. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

More from Axios:

Musk and Trump shake hands at Kirk memorial, months after rift
Erika Kirk: Everything Charlie built will become "10 times greater" through his memory

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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Scenes from Charlie Kirk's memorial service

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