Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was honored Sunday at one of the largest memorial services ever held for a private citizen. Tens of thousands gathered in Glendale, Arizona, to remember his faith, courage, and influence.
The event filled State Farm Stadium to its expanded 73,000-seat capacity, with another 10,000 people gathered at the Desert Diamond Arena and 10,000 more in nearby viewing areas.
TPUSA officials estimated attendance at 90,000, though earlier law enforcement estimates had placed the number closer to 200,000.
The scale of the memorial placed it among the largest public tributes in U.S. history, comparable to gatherings for figures such as Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, and Martin Luther King Jr.
The service followed Kirk’s assassination on September 10 at Utah Valley University during the first stop of TPUSA’s American Comeback Tour. A 33-hour manhunt ended with the capture of suspect Tyler Robinson.
Over the course of the daylong ceremony, 25 speakers remembered Kirk’s deep Christian faith, his drive to reach young men searching for meaning, and his willingness to live without regrets. His widow, Erika Kirk, delivered some of the most powerful remarks, telling the packed stadium she forgave her husband’s accused killer.
“On the Cross, our Savior said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,’” she said, holding back tears. “That young man—I forgive him. My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life.”
She said her husband’s mission was to give “the lost boys of the West” a purpose through faith and Turning Point USA. “He left this world without regrets. He did 100 percent of what he could every day.”
Political leaders, media figures, and business executives joined the crowd, reflecting Kirk’s broad reach. President Donald Trump called him a “martyr,” while former Fox News host Tucker Carlson said Kirk was “bringing the gospel to the country.”
TPUSA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet described him as a “prophet,” and conservative commentator Jack Posobiec urged attendees to “put on the full armor of God and face the evil in high places.”
Elon Musk was spotted sitting with Trump during the service, while UFC President Dana White and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also attended.
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson praised the Trump administration, saying it had been given power by God to “wield the sword against evil.”
“This is like an old time revival, isn’t it?” Trump told the crowd, as music and tributes filled the stadium.
The memorial service was broadcast across major U.S. networks, underscoring the national attention Kirk’s death has drawn. For supporters, the gathering was not only a farewell but also a rallying point for the conservative movement he helped shape.