Up next
Author
Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp

US President Donald Trump has called right-wing activist Charlie Kirk a “martyr for American freedom”, at a memorial service in Arizona, saying he was killed by a “radicalised, cold-blooded monster for speaking the truth”.
Tens of thousands of people attended the memorial at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, the city where Kirk last lived with his family.
Trump said the 31-year-old was targeted because he stood “for freedom and justice, for God, country, for reason and common sense,” adding that the attack had made Kirk “immortal”.
“He was assassinated because he lived bravely, he lived boldly and he argued brilliantly,” he said.

“He’s a martyr now for America’s freedom. I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie. And neither now will history.”

Kirk was shot dead at an event at a university in the state of Utah on 10 September. The alleged perpetrator, a 22-year-old man, was arrested a short time later and charged with murder. He faces the death penalty.
Kirk’s widow, Erika, delivered a more than 20-minute speech during which she forgave her husband’s alleged killer.
“That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do,” she said, adding that the answer to hate is love, as taught in the Gospel.
In contrast, Trump said that, unlike Erika Kirk, he does not wish his opponents well, saying: “I hate my opponents. And I don’t want the best for them.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry Erika.”

At the end of his speech, Trump embraced Erika Kirk, who rested her head against his chest several times as they held hands.
The memorial, organised by Kirk’s conservative youth advocacy organisation Turning Point USA, had the feel of a religious revival mixed with a Make America Great Again political rally.
Stephen Miller, the powerful White House adviser, vowed to use Kirk’s death as a galvanising force to finish the work he started.
“We will carry Charlie and Erika in our heart every single day, and fight that much harder because of what you did to us,” Miller said.

“You have no idea the dragon you have awakened. You have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilisation, to save the West, to save the republic.”

A woman with long blonde hair crying behind a podium

Erika Kirk, the 36-year-old widow of Charlie Kirk, said she forgave the man accused of killing her husband. Source: AP / Julia Demaree Nikhinson

Christian rock music blared through loudspeakers and pictures of Kirk were set on easels throughout the walkways of the stadium. The arena, which normally has a capacity of 63,000, appeared completely full.

Crowds of people, many wearing MAGA merchandise, had arrived before dawn to secure seats inside the stadium, where they encountered metal detectors amid tight security.

Speakers at the memorial service included US vice president JD Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio, defence secretary Pete Hegseth and young conservatives shaped by Kirk’s political influence.

During her remarks, Tulsi Gabbard, the US director of national intelligence, tied Kirk’s killing to what she described as a historical pattern in which “political fanatics” eventually turn to violence to defend their ideals.
“They kill and terrorise their opponents, hoping to silence them,” she said.
“But in this evil that we have experienced — that Charlie faced — their flawed ideology is exposed, because by trying to silence Charlie, his voice is now louder than ever.”
Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp
You May Also Like
Godin Court in Churchlands, Perth is a green and leafy cul-de-sac. Residents cant to keep it that way.

Community Clash: Controversy Surrounds Unwanted 100m Footpath Proposal

Exclusive: Residents of a serene cul-de-sac in Perth found themselves puzzled when…
Ashley Jenkinson was killed when two choppers collided in the Gold Coast in January.

Sea World Tragedy: Pilot Reportedly Used Cocaine Just a Day Prior to Crash

An inquest into one of Australia’s most tragic air disasters has revealed…
Bruce Lehrmann hoping for benefactors' support after losing appeal

Bruce Lehrmann Seeks Financial Backing Post-Appeal Loss: A Call for Benefactor Support

Bruce Lehrmann’s ongoing effort to restore his reputation faced another setback after…
Review: The best game on the Switch 2 yet

Unveiling the Ultimate Switch 2 Game: A Must-Play Experience for 2023 Gamers

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has quickly become my top pick for the…
They were about to cut the toddler's birthday cake when gunfire erupted

Chaos Unfolds: Gunshots Interrupt Toddler’s Birthday Celebration

Family members were gathered to celebrate a toddler’s birthday when a burst…

WHO Unveils Landmark Guidelines for Obesity Treatment with Ozempic and Similar Drugs

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published landmark guidelines conditionally recommending treating…

Unpacking the Debate: ‘Trump’s Lap Dog’ Comments and FIFA’s Surprising Peace Prize Introduction

Early Saturday morning Australian time, millions of people around the world will…

The Widening Debt Gap: How Some Australians Are Falling Further Behind

Key Points A Canstar survey reveals fewer Australians have a non-property related…