Charlie Kirk memorial expected to draw tens of thousands

The memorial service for Charlie Kirk on Sunday is expected to draw tens of thousands of people, as supporters of the slain conservative activist flock to Glendale, Ariz. to pay tribute to him.

Speakers include President Trump, Vice President Vance and Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, who has been tapped to pick up the reins at Turning Point USA after her late husband, who co-founded the group in 2012, was fatally shot on Sept. 10 at an open-air rally on a Utah college campus.

Other speakers from the Trump administration include White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and White House Office of Presidential Personnel Director Sergio Gor.

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and the president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., are also slated to give remarks. Numerous high-profile Republican political figures and lawmakers are expected to attend, as well.

Security is expected to be tight on Sunday morning, with a strong federal law enforcement presence at the arena.

The memorial’s website instructs attendees to “expect TSA-level screening.”

The program will be held at State Farm Stadium, where the Arizona Cardinals typically play. The stadium hosts a fixed seating capacity of 63,400, but that can be expanded to over 73,000 for larger events, according to its website.

The memorial’s website says seating will take place on a first-come, first-served basis, dependent on stadium capacity. Overflow seating will be made available at the Desert Diamond Arena, which can hold approximately 19,000 people for concert events.

Doors will open for the event at 8 a.m. local time. The program is slated to begin at 11 a.m.

Strollers and bags of any kind are not permitted in the arena. Those who try to enter even with clear bags will be required to return their bags to their respective vehicles and rejoin the line at the end.

Updated at 7:49 p.m. EDT