At a memorial gathering for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Sunday, former US President Donald Trump and thousands of his supporters remembered the 31-year-old’s life with language steeped in religious symbolism.
“He’s a martyr now for American freedom,” Trump declared of Kirk, who was shot and killed on September 10 at a Utah university campus.
Trump, the last speaker of the evening, addressed a packed crowd of nearly 65,000 at a stadium in Arizona, where mourners traveled from across the country to attend.
“I look at him as a Christ martyr, definitely,” said Monica Mirelez, a 44-year-old nurse who drove more than 12 hours from Texas to join the memorial.
Mirelez explained that she had followed Kirk closely, watching his Instagram videos daily.
“He was a perfect example of what we should be doing as Christians, we should be bold and speak up,” she said.
“It’s so sad that he was silenced like this,” Mirelez added, noting that “it feels like losing a brother.”
Supporters at the event wore red, white, and blue, and responded to Trump and other speakers with loud chants of “USA! USA! USA!” Between speeches, Christian rock bands performed, with many attendees singing along, reinforcing the religious mood.
‘Biblical principles’
Mirelez said her support for Kirk was rooted in faith, believing that “his political views were basically backed up by the Bible.”
“He stood up for biblical principles, against the LGBTQ community… That brought him a lot of hate from a lot of people, but I think he was misunderstood,” she remarked.
Some younger attendees also voiced their dismay at how others reacted to Kirk’s death. Nick Chisholm, a 15-year-old high school student, told AFP that classmates mocked the tragedy.
“They laughed, they said he deserved it,” Chisholm recalled. “Whatever he said, he didn’t deserve to be killed for speaking his opinion and his beliefs.”
The memorial was marked by messages of unity and determination. Senior Trump aide Stephen Miller warned, “You have no idea the dragon you have awakened. You have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilization, to save the West.”
‘We’re all Charlie Kirk now’
For Welsley Inglis, a 61-year-old engineer from California, Kirk’s influence lay in his ability to connect young people back to Christianity. He blamed rival Democrats for pushing social changes he sees as harmful.
“They’re the ones that have really pushed blending the genders, no male, no female, transgender, get rid of that dichotomy,” Inglis said.
He praised Kirk’s ability to “bring the youth back to the church and change their minds,” recalling how churches had emptied since his own childhood.
Inglis also referenced Trump administration promises to curb political violence allegedly linked to left-wing activists. “We can’t just crack down on dissent, there would have to be proof, it has to be done by the books… But personally, I think they have proof, it just hasn’t been released yet,” he said.
Others struck a more conciliatory tone. Jeremy Schlotman, a 21-year-old Catholic who had recently joined Kirk’s Turning Point USA, echoed a message of forgiveness. He said he agreed with Kirk’s widow Erika, who also forgave the suspected shooter during her address.
“I think that’s the best response to what the shooter did,” Schlotman explained. “Kill one, and a thousand more will rise. That’s what’s happening: the shooter just created a generation of new Charlies. We’re all Charlie Kirk now.”
What you should know
Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative youth group Turning Point USA, rose to prominence as one of the most visible right-wing voices in the US, especially among young voters.
His death has sparked both grief and controversy, with supporters framing him as a martyr for Christian and conservative values, and critics pointing to the deep political divisions in America.
His memorial became both a tribute and a rallying point for Trump’s base, highlighting the merging of politics, faith, and identity in today’s American right.
