GLENDALE, Ariz. () U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke in remembrance Sunday at the memorial for slain political activist Charlie Kirk, recalling one of their early talks.

“In one of my first conversations with Charlie in July of 2021, we were talking about the risks that all of us take when we challenge entrenched interests, the physical risk,” said Kennedy. “And he asked me if I was scared of dying, and I said to him, ‘There’s a lot worse things than death, and one of those things is if we lost our constitutional rights in this country and that our children were raised as slaves.’”

Kennedy also touched on Kirk’s faith and his belief that people should “strive to live our lives in perfect imitation of Christ.”

“Christ died at 33 years old, but he changed the trajectory of history,” said Kennedy. “Charlie died at 31 years old because he had surrendered (to God). (Kirk) also now has changed the trajectory of history.”

The memorial service for Kirk, whom President Donald Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, drew tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice President JD Vance, other administration officials and young conservatives.

Kirk was shot and killed on Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem.

Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged and faces the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges. Authorities have not revealed a clear motive in the shooting, but prosecutors say Robinson wrote in a text to his partner following the shooting that he “had enough” of Kirk’s opinions.