Memorial service for Charlie Kirk draws Trump, major GOP figures

More than 100,000 mourners are expected at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, for the memorial service of Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point USA founder who was assassinated earlier this month. The service, scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. local time, will feature remarks from former President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders, along with family members paying tribute to the 31-year-old activist.

Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, will speak about his legacy and her new role leading the national organization he built. The service is expected to be both a moment of mourning and a signal that the movement intends to continue without its founder.

Beyond the memorial, the loss has underscored Kirk’s unlikely rise from a suburban Illinois high school dropout to a national political force. He co-founded Turning Point USA at 18 and, by his mid-20s, became the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention. His organization grew into a political empire: TPUSA revenue rose from about $2 million in 2015 to roughly $85 million in 2024, with the Turning Point Action political arm pushing total figures above $95 million.

Following Kirk's death, TPUSA has seen a surge of interest from students seeking to form new campus chapters. Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of The Charlie Kirk Show, said the organization has received more than 54,000 requests to establish new campus chapters in the week since the assassination, adding to a nationwide network that now tops 900 chapters. Kolvet also said he had received hundreds of offers to work for TPUSA.

Erika Kirk has spoken publicly about continuing her husband’s mission. In her first public comments since his death, she said the movement he built will not die and that she intends to ensure it endures. She noted that TPUSA's annual AmericaFest conference in Phoenix in December will proceed as planned, underscoring the organization’s intent to push forward with Kirk’s agenda.

Security scrutiny and questions about safety have followed the shooting. Kirk was killed Sept. 10 during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University, the first stop on TPUSA’s "American Comeback Tour." The case has prompted renewed debate about event security at campuses and political gatherings.

With Kirk’s death, TPUSA now faces the challenge of maintaining momentum while managing leadership changes. The Arizona memorial, featuring a high-profile lineup, serves as a test of the movement’s resilience and its ability to pursue its mission in a shifting political landscape.