Charlie Kirk memorial: Trump and Vance to join tens of thousands of people at service for rightwing activist – US politics live

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J Oliver Conroy

Christian nationalists in the US are positioning Charlie Kirk as a martyr for their movement, one that has grown in popularity and whose rise was intertwined with Kirk’s own political ascent.

After Kirk’s killing, his widow, Erika Kirk, wrote on social media that the “world is evil”, but God “so good.” The “sound of this widow weeping [echoes] throughout this world like a battle cry,” she said. “They have no idea what they just ignited within this wife.”

While Erika Kirk’s private sorrow is no doubt very real, her public remarks are telling, said Jeff Sharlet, the author of several books on Christian nationalism and the far right. “That’s holy war, that’s accelerationism, and it’s incredibly powerful,” he said, particularly in the emotional context of a grieving widow.

Ahead of Charlie Kirk’s memorial service today, JD Vance, who is expected to deliver an address, wrote on X:

“Last week, we brought my dear friend Charlie Kirk home one last time. Today, we return to Arizona to remember Charlie and honor his sacrifice. May he eternally rest in peace, and may God watch over Erika and their beautiful children.”

The killing of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week has triggered a wave of political disquiet in Washington, with some House Democrats fearing a messaging trap over a Republican resolution to honor him while other lawmakers worry about the broader political temperature following government pressure on broadcasters.

Democrats ultimately decided to side with the Republicans to pass the resolution, with 95 Democrats in support. Fifty-eight Democrats opposed it, 38 voted present and 22 did not vote.

The five-page resolution, introduced by the House speaker, Mike Johnson, and co-sponsored by 165 House Republicans but no Democrats, praises Kirk as a “courageous American patriot” who sought to “elevate truth, foster understanding, and strengthen the Republic”.

Americans are grappling with the brutal killing and complicated legacy of the 31-year-old conservative “youth whisperer”, Trump ally and podcasting provocateur, who was gunned down on 10 September in a brazen act of what prosecutors have labeled political violence – and which has deepened fears about the trajectory of a profoundly divided nation.

Kirk was struck by a single bullet in broad daylight as he spoke before a crowd of 3,000 mostly college students at Utah Valley University, the first stop on his national “American Comeback” campus tour. Prosecutors have charged Tyler Robinson, 22, with capital murder in Kirk’s killing and said they will seek the death penalty.

In the wake of Kirk’s death, Trump and his advisers have sought to cast blame on Democrats, even though elected leaders and party officials have uniformly condemned the killing. Officials have said they believe the suspect acted alone.

Prosecutors have said that they suspect Robinson killed Kirk because he personally had become sick of what he perceived to be Kirk’s “hatred”. But, citing three sources familiar with the investigation into Kirk’s killing, NBC reported Saturday that federal authorities have not found any link between Robinson and leftwing groups, on which the Trump administration has threatened to crack down after the deadly shooting.

Fueled by an outpouring of grief and rage on the right, conservatives are demanding punishment for those who mocked or disparaged Kirk – a campaign of retribution critics say mirrors the very cancel culture he railed against. Since his death, teachers, students, journalists and late-night show host Jimmy Kimmel have been fired, suspended or disciplined over comments related to Kirk or his death, in a clampdown that free speech advocates, democracy scholars and other comedians say amounts to government censorship.

It is unclear exactly what time Donald Trump is expected to speak at the memorial but reporters were told he is thought to be the last speaker.

He is set to arrive at the event sometime between 12pm and 3pm local time (3pm-6pm ET).

The Guardian’s David Smith wrote this profile of Charlie Kirk:

Anyone who wants to understand the rise of Donald Trump among young voters has to understand Charlie Kirk, dubbed a “youth whisperer” of the right, who was shot on Wednesday at an event at Utah Valley University and died afterwards.

Kirk was only 31 and had never held elected office but, as a natural showman with a flair for patriotism, populism and Christian nationalism, was rich in the political currency of the era.

Officials expect more than 100,000 people to turn up for the memorial service in Glendale, Arizona. The State Farm stadium, home of the NFL team Arizona Cardinals, can seat up to 63,400 people and expand to hold another 10,000. There is additional seating of around 19,000 at the nearby Desert Diamond Arena.

People started to arrive before dawn to secure a place. Steve Bannon was photographed among those arriving early. Photos coming to us over the news wires show crowds making their way towards the site hours before the service is due to start:

People arrive to attend the public memorial service of rightwing activist Charlie Kirk outside State Farm stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images

People arrive to attend the memorial service. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images

Far-right commentator and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon arrives. Photograph: Carlos Barría/Reuters

Police officers ride bicycles outside State Farm stadium as crowds arrive. Photograph: Cheney Orr/Reuters

Trump boards Air Force One to head to Arizona

Donald Trump has boarded Air Force One to fly to Arizona for Charlie Kirk’s memorial service. The US president is expected to address the crowd later today.

Donald Trump departs to attend memorial service for Charlie Kirk. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters

Before leaving the White House, Trump told reporters:

“We’re here to celebrate the life of a great man. Really a great man. A young man. We look forward to it. That something like this could’ve happened is not even believable. Will be a very interesting day. A very tough day.”

The Charlie Kirk memorial is expected to start at 11am local time (2pm ET) and Donald Trump is expected to be one of the speakers.

Other speakers include:

• Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff;

• Marco Rubio, the secretary of state;

• Robert F Kennedy Jr, the health secretary;

• Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence;

• Tucker Carlson, rightwing commentator and former Fox host;

• Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff;

• Sergio Gor, US special envoy for south and central Asian affairs;

• and Erika Kirk, Kirk’s widow and new head of Turning Point USA – the youth organisation her husband founded.

Donald Trump and JD Vance to be among tens of thousands at Charlie Kirk memorial

Donald Trump, JD Vance and other senior US administration officials will attend a memorial service for murdered rightwing activist Charlie Kirk today as more than 100,000 people are expected to turn up.

Doors for the service being held at the State Farm stadium in Glendale, Arizona open at 8am local time (11am ET). But crowds already swelled hours earlier to secure a spot in the stadium, which can hold 63,400 people. Admission is on a first come, first served basis, organisers said.

Kirk, a close ally of the US president, was shot dead at a university campus event on 10 September. His death in Orem, Utah, shocked the nation and sparked condemnation from Republicans and Democrats. Utah resident Tyler Robsinson, 22, has been charged with several counts including aggravated murder following the 31-year-old’s killing.

Since the killing, top Trump officials have been threatening vengeance against anyone deemed not to have sufficiently mourned Kirk’s death. Vance endorsed a mass “doxing” effort to track down and intimidate people and vowed to crack down on groups who celebrate Kirk’s death and political violence against their opponents. Dozens of people have lost their jobs in the aftermath of the killing or been penalised, including late night comedian Jimmy Kimmel, whose show was yanked off air over Kirk-related comments.

Federal law enforcement is treating the event with the same security arrangements as the Super Bowl, according to Fox News. The Department for Homeland Security is assigning the memorial Special Event Assessment Rating Level 1, one of the highest possible levels after a presidential inauguration or the Olympics.

We will bring you the latest political news and reaction from the memorial.