Trump hails Charlie Kirk as ‘American hero’ as 1000’s fill memorial service

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Sarah Smith North America editor in Arizona

Watch: Key moments from Charlie Kirk's memorial service

US President Donald Trump has hailed the conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a "nice American hero" and "martyr" throughout a speech to tens of 1000's of mourners at a memorial service in Arizona.

Trump was the headline speaker on the packed occasion on Sunday, which noticed high officers from his administration, together with Vice-President JD Vance, reward Kirk's political legacy after he was shot useless on 10 September.

"He was assassinated as a result of he lived bravely, he lived boldly and he argued brilliantly," Trump informed the group on the State Farm Stadium close to Phoenix.

Kirk's spouse, Erika, additionally delivered a tearful speech during which she mentioned she had forgiven her husband's alleged killer.

"My husband, Charlie, he wished to avoid wasting younger males, identical to the one who took his life," she mentioned, including: "I forgive him as a result of it's what Christ did. The reply to hate will not be hate."

Tens of 1000's of individuals queued for hours outdoors the stadium earlier than the occasion, with some even tenting out the night time earlier than to safe their spot. Many wore Make America Nice Once more (MAGA) hats, different Trump-branded gadgets and purple, white and blue outfits.

Contained in the stadium, the temper and ambiance resembled a raucous political rally with music beforehand from Christian bands who prompted standing singalongs from the group of virtually 100,000.

The record of audio system included members of Kirk's organisation, Turning Level USA, which focuses on conservative activism on faculty campuses, well-known figures within the conservative motion, Trump administration officers and those that mentioned they'd been formed by Kirk's activism and right-wing Christian worldview.

They pressured the necessity to proceed the 31-year-old's activism and emphasised his deep religion all through the five-hour service. Kirk, who was debating college students at a college in Utah when he was shot useless from a close-by rooftop, was repeatedly described as a martyr.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/4cb3/live/01dd4310-9749-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/4cb3/live/01dd4310-9749-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4cb3/live/01dd4310-9749-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/4cb3/live/01dd4310-9749-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/4cb3/live/01dd4310-9749-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/4cb3/live/01dd4310-9749-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/4cb3/live/01dd4310-9749-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4cb3/live/01dd4310-9749-11f0-9cf6-cbf3e73ce2b9.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="EPA Attendees singalong to Christian performers during the public memorial service of political activist Charlie Kirk" class="sc-86c96223-0 fHZDyi"/> EPA Tens of 1000's gathered contained in the stadium for the memorial to Kirk

Different audio system mentioned they believed his demise would additional revitalise the conservative second in America, which is already in a robust place given Trump's maintain of the White Home and the Republican management of Congress.

"The day that Charlie died, angels wept, however these tears have been became hearth in our hearts," mentioned Stephen Miller, the White Home deputy chief of workers. "Our enemies can't comprehend our power."

Inside the stands of State Farm Stadium, Kirk was revered as an activist without cost speech and a mobiliser of the youth vote for Trump. "Charlie did not simply assist, he made the profitable distinction, I promise you that," White Home Chief of Workers Susie Wiles mentioned.

"We would not be right here with out him," Vice-President JD Vance informed the group, who at occasions erupted into an prolonged chant of "U-S-A, U-S-A".

"We have got it from right here," he added, whereas discussing Kirk's political legacy.

Vance was one in all a number of key figures from the Trump administration who spoke on stage, with others together with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Battle Pete Hegseth and Heath Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.

'I forgive him'

They have been adopted by Kirk's spouse, Erika, who was tearful at occasions as she described her relationship and vowed to proceed her husband's work. She was named the brand new CEO of Turning Level USA after his demise.

"I noticed the wound that ended his life," she mentioned. "I felt every little thing he would count on to really feel. I felt shock. I felt horror, and a stage of heartache that I did not even know existed.

"These previous 10 days after Charlie's assassination, we did not see violence. We did not see rioting. We did not see revolution. As an alternative, we noticed what my husband at all times prayed he would see on this nation, we noticed revival," Kirk informed the group.

She then mentioned she had forgiven her husband's alleged killer, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. "That man, that younger man, I forgive him. I forgive him as a result of it was what Christ did and it's what Charlie would do," Kirk mentioned.

Watch: Is America divided? Charlie Kirk supporters weigh in

There was a raucous reception when President Trump took the stage after Erika Kirk. He repeatedly praised Charlie Kirk, whereas at occasions turning to his normal political speaking factors together with crime in American cities and mocking his predecessor Joe Biden.

"He is a martyr now for America's freedom," Trump mentioned of Kirk. "I do know I communicate for everybody right here immediately once I say that none of us will ever neglect Charlie. And neither now will historical past."

The president then mentioned he disagreed with Kirk on one factor. "He didn't hate his opponents, he wished the most effective for them," he mentioned, prompting some laughs. "That is the place I disagree with Charlie. I hate my opponents and I do not need what's finest for them."

Trump additionally attacked what he known as the "radical left" and blamed the left for violence within the nation.

On the finish of his handle, during which he described Kirk as a "nice of his technology", Trump was joined on stage by Erika Kirk and the pair hugged as the group applauded.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/a349/live/78570ee0-974e-11f0-90f2-5f87cb020b24.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/a349/live/78570ee0-974e-11f0-90f2-5f87cb020b24.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a349/live/78570ee0-974e-11f0-90f2-5f87cb020b24.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/a349/live/78570ee0-974e-11f0-90f2-5f87cb020b24.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/a349/live/78570ee0-974e-11f0-90f2-5f87cb020b24.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/a349/live/78570ee0-974e-11f0-90f2-5f87cb020b24.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/a349/live/78570ee0-974e-11f0-90f2-5f87cb020b24.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/a349/live/78570ee0-974e-11f0-90f2-5f87cb020b24.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters Image shows Donald Trump and Erika Kirk" class="sc-86c96223-0 fHZDyi"/> Reuters Trump and Erika Kirk hugged on the finish of the memorial service and thanked the group of 1000's

The deeply partisan occasion was reflective of how Kirk's demise has laid naked the acute political divisions in America, with many on the best casting blame on the left for stoking political violence.

The Trump administration is in search of a crackdown on what it calls the "radical left", which in flip has prompted accusations of presidency overreach and claims Kirk's demise is getting used as a pretext to intrude on civil liberties.

Robinson, who has been charged with Kirk's homicide, is going through the demise penalty however a motive for the killing is but to be revealed by officers.

Kirk was 18 when he co-founded Turning Level USA, a pupil organisation targeted on spreading conservative concepts on faculty campuses.

He would maintain debates on campuses and have become recognized for his combative type, inviting college students to step as much as the microphone and problem his right-wing Christian worldview in entrance of a baying viewers.

Clips of those exchanges constructed him an enormous following - greater than 5m followers on X and 7m on TikTok - that helped him mobilise the youth vote for President Trump.

Whereas he energised younger conservatives, his remarks on points equivalent to race and crime additionally routinely prompted an offended liberal backlash. He was a robust supporter of gun rights, vehemently opposed abortion, was vital of transgender rights and promoted false claims about Covid-19.