Trump to Honor Charlie Kirk at Arizona Memorial as Tens of Thousands Expected
Memorial for Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk set for State Farm Stadium in Glendale with Trump and Vance among speakers
GLENDALE, Ariz. — President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are set to speak at a public memorial service for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sunday. The event, Building a Legacy: Remembering Charlie Kirk, is expected to draw tens of thousands of attendees, including senior White House officials and young conservatives influenced by Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA. Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10 during the first stop of Turning Point USA’s The American Comeback Tour at Utah Valley University.
Organizers say the service will begin at 11 a.m. local time (2 p.m. ET) and entry will be first-come, first-served, based on stadium capacity. State Farm Stadium seats 63,400 in fixed seating and can expand beyond 73,000 for larger events. Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012, and his work helped mobilize a generation of young conservatives who have followed the group’s activities.
Turning Point USA released guidelines for attendees, including a patriotic dress code and a strict no-bag policy, with security checks expected at the stadium.
In addition to Trump and Vance, other speakers include Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, White House adviser Stephen Miller, and Sergio Gor. Kirk’s widow Erika Kirk, Turning Point’s new chief executive, is also slated to speak.
The memorial will be broadcast on Fox News Channel and streamed on Fox News Digital.
State Farm Stadium is the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and has fixed seating for 63,400 and can expand to more than 73,000 for large events. The service marks a high-profile moment for the conservative youth movement that Kirk helped energize through Turning Point USA, as thousands are expected to travel to Arizona for the tribute.
The event’s organizers emphasize security and orderly entry amid a political climate focused on youth mobilization and online influence. Trump and Vance have signaled a strong and visible presence in a gathering aimed at honoring a figure many conservatives credit with expanding young people’s engagement in political causes. The ceremony’s timing, the roster of speakers, and the venue all point to a concerted effort to highlight Kirk’s legacy within the broader push to energize conservative activism among younger voters.