The funeral for conservative activist Charlie Kirk is scheduled for Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Turning Point USA said, and former President Donald Trump has said he will attend.
Turning Point USA invited supporters to join “in celebrating the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Charlie Kirk, an American legend,” and called his life “a testament to faith, courage, and conviction.” Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, shared an emotional post on Saturday following the shooting that left him dead while he spoke at a college event.
Trump announced Friday that he planned to attend the funeral after posting a four-minute video on his social media platform, saying he was “filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah.” The video, released Wednesday night, was characterized by the former president as an emotional tribute.
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University as part of his American Comeback tour. Authorities have identified a 22-year-old Utah man, Tyler Robinson, as the suspect. Officials said Robinson acted alone and is expected to be charged with aggravated murder.
Law enforcement accounts released in the days after the shooting said the suspect’s father, a police officer, confronted his son and that the father later turned his son in to authorities. Investigators said Robinson had written “Hey fascist! Catch!” on a bullet and that he threatened to kill himself rather than surrender. Media reports describe Robinson as having been raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; police said the shooting occurred moments after Kirk praised the church during his talk.
Erika Kirk’s public statements and the Turning Point USA announcement framed the Sept. 21 service as a large memorial, to be held at the Arizona Cardinals’ home stadium. Turning Point USA promoted the event to its supporters and described it as a celebration of Kirk’s life and legacy.
The investigation into the shooting remained active, and criminal charges were expected to be filed against the suspect. Authorities who have publicly discussed the case said they had not identified a broader conspiracy and that their current findings indicated the attack was carried out by the alleged assailant alone.
Officials have not released a full timeline for public events beyond the Sept. 21 service. The announcement of the funeral and Trump’s planned attendance come as political and campus communities continue to process the killing and as investigators prepare charging documents against the suspected shooter.