Charlie Kirk memorial: Trump and Vance to join tens of thousands of people at service for rightwing activist – US politics live | Charlie Kirk shooting
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.
Key events
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:
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.
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:
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Susie Wiles, the White House chief of staff;
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Marco Rubio, the secretary of state;
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Robert F Kennedy Jr, the health secretary;
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Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence;
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Tucker Carlson, rightwing commentator and former Fox host;
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Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff;
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Sergio Gor, US special envoy for south and central Asian affairs;
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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.
