Charlie Kirk memorial updates: 'I forgive him,' Erika Kirk says of alleged shooter
President Trump called Kirk "immortal" and speakers called him a "martyr."
Charlie Kirk was remembered as a "martyr" and "warrior" by some of the leading lights of the conservative movement, the Trump administration, friends as well as his grieving widow during a packed memorial service in Arizona Sunday.
As President Trump and others noted, the service felt more like a "revival" rather than a memorial, and Kirk's connection to and efforts for his Christian faith were on full display throughout. Kirk was recalled for the movement among young conservatives that he helped spark, his willingness to debate and his fearlessness in the face of threats.
In a poignant moment, Kirk's widow, Erika said that she forgives her husband's alleged assassin.
Kirk, 31, founded Turning Point USA at age 18 and rose to become one of the most prominent conservative voices in the country. His influence, particularly with young people, helped propel Trump to office. But some of his comments on gun violence, LGBTQ issues, race and more often drew criticism from liberals and others.
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Gov. Shapiro says Americans must 'universally condemn political violence'
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat whose residence was set on fire earlier this year while he and his family were asleep inside, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that the nation is at an "inflection point."
"I hope we go the direction of healing, of bringing people together, of trying to find our commonalities, not just focus on our differences," Shapiro said on the morning of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's memorial service.
The governor said that after the arson attack on his residence in April, he saw his people of all backgrounds in his state come together.
"I want to see that in America now in the wake of the killing of Charlie Kirk, on the heels of the killing of Speaker Hortman and her husband, and just too much political violence," Shapiro said, referring to the June murder of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband in their home. "We've got to find our better angels. We've got to universally condemn political violence no matter where it is. Whether it's against Charlie Kirk or someone else, it is not okay. We all have to work together to condemn it."
When asked about Kirk's legacy, Shapiro said the 31-year-old activist was someone "devoted to speech and debate."
"I appreciate the fact that he showed up in town squares and college campuses and sought to debate others, whether I agree with it or not. The answer to debate and speech that you don't like is not violence or taking someone's life. It's more speech. It's more debate. It's more engagement. And that's what we need more of in our communities," the governor said.
Tens of thousands pack arena for Kirk memorial, say officials
Local officials said they wouldn't be surprised if more than 100,000 people gather for Charlie Kirk’s memorial service.
Other high-profile figures who are scheduled to deliver remarks include Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.
Attendees have been asked to wear red, white or blue to the service.
Trump says Kirk memorial is a ‘time of healing’
Ahead of traveling to Arizona for Charlie Kirk’s memorial, President Donald Trump praised him Sunday morning before boarding Marine One.
“We can celebrate the lives of a great man today, really a great man. He's a young man but a great man,” Trump said. “And we look forward to it. It really is. We want to look at it as a time of healing, a time of whatever, that something like this could have happened is not even believable.”
Asked what he’s going to say to Kirk’s wife and family, Trump said he’s going to provide them comfort.
“Well, I'm going to just give them my love. There's nothing like you can say. You talk about the great things he's done. I mean, he's been amazing. He's had a tremendous influence for a young man that was, did a great job. He did a tremendous job, and he had a hold on youth because they loved him. They respected him,” Trump said.
-ABC News’ Hannah Demissie
High security as crowds gather at State Farm stadium
The memorial event at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, has been designated as a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event by the Department of Homeland Security, meaning it will have the same level of security as the Super Bowl or the Boston Marathon.
Local officials said they wouldn't be surprised if more than 100,000 people gather for the memorial.