Bannon says a third of U.S. teachers are 'terrorists' at Charlie Kirk memorial

A massive Charlie Kirk memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, drew hundreds of thousands of supporters on Sept. 21, 2025. The event featured remarks from a broad coalition of conservative figures, including Vice President JD Vance, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and other allies, with media coverage provided by Real America's Voice. In that broadcast, Steve Bannon used the platform to level a pointed critique of public education and its influence on young people. The gathering marked a high-profile moment for MAGA-aligned voices in the wake of Kirk's death and its ensuing political reverberations.

During the service, Bannon asserted that educators are shaping students toward left-wing radicalism, saying that “from kindergarten all the way up, they are essentially, you know – a third of the teachers are terrorists that are trying to form them.” He argued that Kirk’s doctrine was appealing to young people as a counter to what he described as a radicalizing school system, and he connected the issue to broader questions about family life and cultural values. Bannon added that some young men have been told they are “bad” or “evil” and urged a return to traditional norms such as marrying early and having children. The remarks reflected a broader pattern among MAGA commentators of portraying educators and progressive politics as existential threats.

Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University. The gunman, a 22-year-old identified as Tyler Robinson, was described in memorial coverage as the person who killed the Turning Point USA founder, who had become a long-running target of conservative activism. Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, delivered remarks at the service and spoke of forgiveness toward the shooter, saying she forgives the alleged killer. Her message framed the tragedy within the broader mission she said her husband pursued with Turning Point USA and its emphasis on engaging students in political life.

The service also served as a stage for a chorus of political voices aligned with former President Donald Trump. Administration officials and Trump allies used the moment to advocate aggressive strategies against groups they label as threats or extremists. Reports tied the rhetoric to a broader push by Trump aides to classify some groups, like Antifa, as domestic terrorists and to pursue legal or policy measures aimed at curbing what they describe as hate speech or incitement. Critics contended that the line of argument leveraged Kirk’s death to justify a broader crackdown on political opponents.

In addition to Bannon, the memorial drew remarks from figures associated with the broader conservative movement, including Miller, RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, Rubio, and Carlson, among others. Kirk’s widow, Erika, described her husband as a unifier who worked to extend his youth-focused outreach. The memorial service, which gathered supporters from across the country, underscored the ongoing tangle of grief, activism, and rhetoric surrounding Kirk’s death and the future direction of a movement built around his cause.