The keynote speaker at the memorial remembering Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday afternoon was President Donald Trump.
President Trump began with recognizing the deep wave of mourning that has engulfed many Americans in the wake of Kirk’s assassination just under two weeks ago on Sept. 10:
President Trump speaks to the loss America feels since Charlie Kirk’s assassination:
“Today, America is a nation in grief, a nation in shock, and a nation in mourning.
Less than two weeks ago, our country was robbed of one of the brightest lights of our times, a giant of his… pic.twitter.com/8AQBxBLefJ
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 21, 2025
He mentioned that not only did the Turning Point USA co-founder and CEO bring together himself and now-HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but now-Vice President JD Vance.
President Trump gives Charlie Kirk a hat tip for connecting him with two critical pieces of his administration.@realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/XX3UOqBqaZ
— Turning Point Action (@TPAction_) September 21, 2025
The vice president was on hand to speak about his friend Charlie, as RedState wrote.
READ MORE: JD Vance Mesmerizes Crowd at Charlie Kirk Memorial: ‘I Love You, My Friend, We’ve Got It From Here’
The president marveled about the fact that an 18-year-old Kirk began TPUSA just days after he graduated from high school in 2012:
Think about this, Charlie Kirk started Turning Point just two days removed from high school graduation. pic.twitter.com/F39blww93Y
— Turning Point Action (@TPAction_) September 21, 2025
Trump talked about Kirk’s overwhelming focus on his mission to save America:
“Charlie wasn’t in it for money at all. Never has been. Money was never his thing. He was always in it for the mission….
WE HAVE A COUNTRY TO SAVE.” pic.twitter.com/nc2OxMeCKE
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 21, 2025
He said, “As he liked to say back then, ‘We have a country to save.’ And he did.”
“The more success Charlie had, the more dangerous his mission became,” Trump said.
“[Charlie Kirk] was violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice, for God, country, for reason, and for common sense.
He was assassinated because he lived bravely, he lived boldly, and he argued brilliantly without apology.
He did what was RIGHT for our nation” pic.twitter.com/veLXSb08YN
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 21, 2025
“[Charlie Kirk] was violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice, for God, country, for reason, and for common sense,” the president said. “He was assassinated because he lived bravely, he lived boldly, and he argued brilliantly without apology. He did what was right for our nation.”
He called the assassination “an assault on our God-given liberties and most sacred rights” as Americans:
CHILLS
“Charlie’s murder was not just an attack on one man or one movement, it was an attack on our entire nation…
…The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at all of us.” pic.twitter.com/W50UYBPT2h
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 21, 2025
But as Trump noted, the assassin failed to silence the message. It has completely backfired:
.@POTUS: “The assassin failed at his quest because Charlie’s message has not been silenced. It now is BIGGER and BETTER and STRONGER than EVER BEFORE.” pic.twitter.com/s7vRwahXpK
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 21, 2025
He also spoke directly to Charlie Kirk’s parents, in hopes of giving them comfort at this terrible moment:
President Trump speaks directly to Charlie’s parents.@realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/Fy4zY3xZYg
— Turning Point Action (@TPAction_) September 21, 2025
“We know that no words can ever be enough to fill the void he leaves behind,” Trump said. “That’s a void that just can’t be filled, but I hope that the extraordinary outpouring of emotion over these past 11 days has comforted you with the knowledge that your son brought more good and love to this world in the 31 short years than most people – even very, very successful people – can bring in a lifetime.”
Kirk’s wife Erika spoke just before the president at the memorial event, as my colleague Jennifer Van Laar wrote.
READ MORE: Weeping, and With a Trembling Voice, Erika Kirk Forgives Her Husband’s Assassin
The president acknowledged the role how pivotal Kirk and TPUSA was in winning the 2024 election, especially among young people:
.@POTUS thanks Charlie Kirk for helping make his 2024 win happen and turning this country around.
“We did unbelievable with young people, and he was a big, BIG factor….
We had a country that was dead one year ago and now we have the hottest country anywhere in the world. and… pic.twitter.com/N2NmjQTcUK
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 21, 2025
And while Kirk accomplished so much in his short life, Pres. Trump said that was never his most important role:
“What was even more important to Charlie than politics and service was the choice he made in the 5th grade which he called the most important decision of his life:
To become a Christian and a follower of his savior Jesus Christ.” 🙏 pic.twitter.com/JPK22W0g0K
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 21, 2025
He noted that Kirk’s roots were in Chicago, and that in one of the last conversations they had, he made a request:
President Trump reveals one of the last things Charlie Kirk said to him: Please, sir. Save Chicago.
“We’re gonna do that. We’re gonna save Chicago from horrible crime!” pic.twitter.com/108R0Z9tsb
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 21, 2025
Kirk will posthumously receive the “nation’s highest civilian honor,” the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which will take place during a ceremony at the White House, he announced.
🚨New: President Trump has announced he will award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously at the White House pic.twitter.com/qO1tiUxG4v
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) September 21, 2025
As the strains of “America The Beautiful” began after his speech, Pres. Trump invited Mrs. Kirk back on stage, where an image representing a national moment of condolence is captured forever.
President Trump and @MrsErikaKirk may have ended the event at State Farm Stadium, but the memorial for Charlie Kirk continues. pic.twitter.com/RLbgSdzudp
— Turning Point Action (@TPAction_) September 21, 2025
You can watch the president’s full remarks here or in the video below:
R.I.P., Charlie Kirk.