Skip to content
Home » Transcript: President Trump Remarks at the Charlie Kirk Memorial In Arizona

Transcript: President Trump Remarks at the Charlie Kirk Memorial In Arizona

Read the full transcript of President Donald Trump’s remarks during the Charlie Kirk memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, September 21, 2025.

President Trump’s Opening Remarks

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well I want to thank you very much Lee. You’ve been there from the beginning with us Lee and we appreciate it. Nobody can sing that song like Lee Greenwood. Thank you very much Lee, very much for being here. And his voice has not changed, you know? Pretty amazing.

And a special thank you to Erica, because 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 generation and above all a devoted husband, father, son, Christian and patriot.

Remembering Charlie Kirk

Charles James Kirk was heinously murdered by a radicalized cold-blooded monster for speaking the truth that was in his heart. He 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.

And so on that terrible day, September 10, 2025, our greatest evangelist for American liberty became immortal. He’s a martyr now for American freedom. I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie Kirk and neither now will history.

Because while Charlie has been reunited with his creator in heaven, his voice on earth will echo through the generations and his name will live forever in the eternal chronicle of America’s greatest patriots. He will live forever.

Tribute to the Kirk Family

To Charlie’s incredible and beautiful widow, Erika, we know the weight of this monumental loss is almost unbearable. But even in the midst of heartache and pain too great to even fathom, you have somehow found the strength and deep faith to be a comfort to millions and millions of people. And thank you very much, Erika. Thank you very much.

Today, an entire nation wraps its loving arms around you and beautiful children. We share in your immense and overwhelming sorrow, and we vow that we will do everything we can to ensure that your children grow up in a land where their father is honored and revered as a great American hero. That’s what he is.

To Charlie’s parents who lost their beloved son, and to the entire Kirk family, we know that no words can ever be enough to fill the void he leaves behind. That’s a void that just can’t be filled. But I hope the extraordinary outpouring of emotion over these past 11 days has comforted you with the knowledge that your son brought more good and love into this world in his 31 short years than most people, even very, very successful people, can bring in a lifetime.

Charlie Kirk loved America with everything he had. And as we can see so clearly today, America loved Charlie Kirk. And he could always draw a big crowd. Look at this today. Look at what’s going on. This is a big crowd.

Here today we have the Vice President of the United States, J.D. Vance. We have the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson. We have countless members of the United States Senate. And I’m sorry I’m not going to introduce you, but I’ll be up here. They’re all over the place.

And likewise, the House of Representatives, they’re all over this big stadium. This is not an arena. This is a stadium. Our great Cabinet and this stadium packed with rafters of people, not to mention the one across the street that also has tens of thousands of people. And they’re watching us on screen right now. And I’m sorry we couldn’t get you in. If anybody would like to give up your seat, please walk across the street.

But this is like an old-time revival, isn’t it? An old-time revival. For millions of Americans, especially young people, it is agonizing and unthinkable to say goodbye to a patriot whose heart still had so much to give and so much.

A Patriotic Spirit From Youth

Raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Charlie was filled with a patriotic spirit from his youth, and he was an All-American in everything he did. And one of the last things he said to me is, “Please, sir, save Chicago.” We’re going to do that. We’re going to save Chicago from horrible crime.

In high school, he was the quarterback of the football team and the captain of the basketball team. He was a good athlete. A lot of people don’t know that about Charlie. He was an Eagle Scout who spent his school lunch breaks listening to another champion for liberty, somebody that he greatly admired, Rush Limbaugh.

But what was even more important to Charlie than politics and service was the choice he made in the fifth grade, which he called the most important decision of his life, to become a Christian and a follower of his Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Birth of Turning Point USA

Inspired by faith and his love of freedom, Charlie did something remarkable when he was just 18 years old. On the advice of a mentor who told him to put off going to college because he was doing so well, he devoted his life to converting young people to the conservative cause. How did he do? Take a look. How did he do?

In 2012, two days after graduating high school, and with just $1,800 in his pocket, the young man from Illinois, who no one had ever heard of, started an organization whose grand ambitions were captured in its name, Turning Point USA. Great name. And I have a feeling it’s going to be bigger and better than ever before.