Hundreds of Thousands Attend Memorial for Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk with Top Officials Present

Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was commemorated in a large memorial service held at State Farm Stadium, drawing over 200,000 attendees including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Kirk was fatally shot during a talk at Utah Valley University on September 10, an event that shocked the conservative community and mobilized widespread tributes. The memorial featured speeches from key political figures, including Kirk's widow Erika Kirk, who has taken over as CEO of Turning Point USA, promising to continue his mission. The service, marked by high-level security akin to the Super Bowl, highlighted Kirk's significant influence on conservative youth politics and his controversial initiatives like the "Professor Watchlist." Despite the overwhelming show of support, some media outlets like Sinclair chose not to air the tribute, instead redirecting audiences to online videos, reflecting ongoing media divisions. Overall, the event underscored Kirk's role as a polarizing yet impactful figure within American conservative politics.