The memorial for Charlie Kirk at the Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sept. 11, 2025.

Mourners including President Donald Trump are preparing to honor the life of prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, at a memorial service in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday.

Kirk, a close ally of the Trump administration and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated earlier this month while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. His death sparked an outpouring of grief and anger from the highest levels of government including Vice President JD Vance, who accompanied his coffin as Air Force Two transported his body home to Arizona, where Kirk lived with his wife, Erika, and two children.

Turning Point USA, which advocates for conservative politics on high school and college campuses, invited members of the public to don their "Sunday Best," specifically red, white or blue, for Kirk's memorial service at State Farm Stadium. Trump, Vance and other top administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are expected to be among those in attendance.

"Charlie’s life was short, but it was full. It was defined by truth, anchored in faith, and devoted to the country he loved," the organization's tribute to its co-founder reads. "His legacy will endure for generations."

Where can I watch Charlie Kirk’s memorial service?

USA TODAY will be livestreaming Charlie Kirk’s memorial service on Sunday.

Apart from USA TODAY, the memorial service will be carried live on networks including CBS News, CNN, Fox News, ABC News and NewsNation. For details on each broadcast and where to watch, click here.

– Fernando Cervantes Jr.

What to know about security for Charlie Kirk memorial

Expect the tribute service for Kirk at State Farm Stadium to have presidential-level security and perhaps concert or football-level attendance.

The Secret Service is overseeing security for the event, and officials said those who do attend should expect the rules to be similar to those for Arizona Cardinals games. A no bag policy will be in effect. Entry will be denied to guests carrying bags.

All attendees will go through a magnetometer with their keys, phones and other items. Anyone flagged for additional screening can expect to have security examine them. Pat downs may be necessary.

– Ronald J. Hansen

Trump says memorial will be 'tough day'

Wearing his quintessential red tie, Trump told reporters that Kirk's memorial service on Sunday would be "a very tough day" as he boarded his plane en route to Glendale, Arizona.

“We’re here to celebrate the life of a great man," Trump said of the service. He is expected to speak at the memorial later in the day.

What is Turning Point USA? What to know about Charlie Kirk’s organization

Turning Point USA was founded by Kirk in 2012 when he was 18, and has since become a prominent political force. Along with its presence on hundreds of college and high school campuses, the organization hosts conferences, encourages youth organizing on conservative issues and produces various media such as the “The Charlie Kirk Show."

It says on its website its mission is to "identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government" and to build "most organized, active, and powerful conservative grassroots activist network on high school and college campuses across the country."

Much of its power comes from its connection with young voters, and Kirk long argued that his organization's chapters were necessary to combat "woke" classroom ideology.

Who is Erika Kirk? Charlie Kirk's wife to speak at memorial service

Erika Lane Kirk, 36, grew up in metro Phoenix and regularly appeared by her husband's side as he helmed Turning Point USA. The pair been married since 2021 and lived in Arizona with their two young children at the time of his death.

The former Erika Frantzve earned her undergraduate degree in political science and international relations at Arizona State University, according to the bio page on her website. She received her Juris Master's from Liberty University School of Law in 2019 and says on her website she is pursuing a doctorate in biblical studies.

She is the CEO and founder of a nonprofit, Everyday Heroes Like You, a faith-based clothing brand, and a ministry project called BIBLEin365 that her bio says "seeks to help individuals engage with the scriptures daily."

She's also the host of the "Midweek Rise Up" podcast, which she describes as a "devotional series focused on Biblical leadership and empowering others to lead with integrity and purpose." In her podcast and as a regular feature beside her husband, Erika Kirk has publicly championed the same political and biblical views as her husband, focusing specifically on young women.

When is Charlie Kirk's memorial service?

Doors are expected to open at 8 a.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST), according to Turning Point USA, and the program is planned to begin at 11 a.m. MST.

Who is speaking at Charlie Kirk's memorial service?

Turning Point USA invited members of the public to attend the memorial service on a "first come, first serve" basis. Several high profile figures are also expected to attend and deliver remarks.

Here's the the list of people expected to speak:

  • President Donald Trump
  • Vice President JD Vance
  • Erika Kirk
  • White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio
  • Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
  • Secretary of War Pete Hegseth
  • Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard
  • Donald Trump Jr.
  • Tucker Carlson
  • White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller
  • U.S. Ambassador to India nominee Sergio Gor

Attendees should plan to arrive early

A big crowd is expected at the memorial service. Anyone planning to attend the memorial service should head to Glendale early and still expect long walks.

Parking near State Farm Stadium is very limited and will open to the public at 7 a.m. Glendale police strongly recommend using ride-sharing or carpooling. Even with those, assume you may have a hike to the stadium.

Doors to the stadium open at 8 a.m. The event is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

Contributing: Amaris Encinas, Natalie Neysa Alund

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Charlie Kirk memorial live updates: Mourners gather in Arizona, how to watch service

Reporting by N'dea Yancey-Bragg and Kathryn Palmer, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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