Millions tune in to Charlie Kirk memorial service as Trump honors TPUSA founder

Millions of Americans watched the public memorial for Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, on Sunday from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Kirk was killed Sept. 10 during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University, the first stop on TPUSA’s American Comeback Tour. President Donald Trump headlined the remarks, joined by conservative commentators, religious leaders and peers from the political right, in a ceremony described by organizers as among the largest gatherings for a private citizen.

Fox News Channel drew 4.8 million total viewers from 1:30 to 7:15 p.m. ET during special coverage of the memorial, while CNN managed 330,000 and MSNBC 251,000 in the same window. The channel also led in the advertising-coveted 25-54 demographic, averaging 687,000 viewers to 48,000 for CNN and 21,000 for MSNBC. During the broadcast, Fox News captured 89% of total viewers and 91% of the cable-news audience in the key demographic. From 1:30 to 6 p.m. ET, Kayleigh McEnany and Lawrence Jones’ four-hour special Remembering Charlie Kirk averaged 4.5 million viewers and 639,000 in the demo, outperforming CNN and MSNBC in both measures. Fox News’ YouTube livestream of the memorial amassed 2.2 million total live video views, marking its third most-viewed livestream of 2025 according to YouTube analytics.

Attendance at the stadium and nearby venues underscored the magnitude of the event. TPUSA said roughly 90,000 people attended the service, with about 70,000 inside State Farm Stadium, another 10,000 at the Desert Diamond Arena overflow venue and an additional 10,000 watching from nearby viewing areas, according to estimates provided by TPUSA.

In a high-profile moment, Erika Kirk addressed the crowd and, later, forgave her husband’s killer, saying, “It’s what Charlie would do.” The memorial also featured remarks from a roster of speakers who framed Kirk’s life as a steadfast defense of American liberty.

Cabinet-level figures who spoke at the service included Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, according to organizers. Trump said he would honor Kirk at the White House with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in the near future.

The service reflected Kirk’s national profile as a political activist and fundraiser who built a youth-focused movement around conservative causes. The gathering was the first stop on TPUSA’s broader outreach effort, designed to rally supporters around Kirk’s stated goals of promoting free-market principles, limited government and religious liberty.

Beyond the official platform, the event drew a cross-section of supporters and critics, illustrating the enduring polarization in American political life. The size of the crowd and the sheer scale of the media coverage highlighted how a private individual’s work in the political arena has cultivated a national audience and influence that extends well beyond campus events and think tanks.

Security, logistics and coverage logistics from the Arizona venue also reflected the magnitude of the gathering, with overflow arenas and viewing areas set up to accommodate thousands more who could not fit inside the stadium. The event’s impact on TV ratings and digital engagement underscored the continuing convergence of media and politics in shaping public memory around political figures and movements.

As the memorial drew to a close, organizers emphasized Kirk’s work and the goals of his movement, while his family and supporters sought to turn the moment into a rallying point for their broader political and cultural agenda. The still-unfolding story of Kirk’s life and the public’s response to his death will continue to be analyzed as part of the larger arc of youth activism and conservative influence in American public life.