Erika Kirk fought back tears as she forgave her late husband’s suspected assassin in a heartbreaking moment during the memorial service for Charlie Kirk on Sunday.
The mother of two was speaking before a jam-packed stadium in Glendale, Arizona when she addressed Tyler Robinson, who is accused of fatally shooting the conservative activist while he was speaking to students at Utah Valley University.
Erika Kirk told the crowd of more than 60,000 mourners at State Farm Stadium that her late husband would have wanted her to forgive his killer.
‘He [Charlie] wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life,’ Erika said, sparking roars from the crowd and a standing ovation.
‘That man, that young man, I forgive him,’ Erika Kirk said while breaking into tears.
Spectators were in tears throughout as she remembered the father of her two children, their marriage and his legacy.
President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and members of the cabinet joined Erika Kirk to give emotional farewells to Kirk after his assassination on September 10.
Trump honored his late friend’s role in helping him get elected in 2024 and said: ‘The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at every one of us’.
Robinson was arrested two days later and has been charged with capital murder, with prosecutors and the Trump administration pushing for him to receive the death penalty in a state that uses the firing squad in executions.
More than 200,000 mourners lined up before the sun rose to try to get into the arena, the home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.
Erika Kirk looks out over the huge crowd at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, as she eulogizes her late husband
Erika Kirk revealed she has forgiven her late husband’s suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson, during her heartbreaking tribute to her late husband at his memorial service
President Donald Trump hugged Erika at the end of the memorial after she gave an emotional speech
The State Farm Stadium reached capacity hours before the start of the memorial service
But thousands were turned away as both the stadium and the overflow venue next door reached capacity hours before the start.
Just days after being named CEO of Turning Point USA, Mrs Kirk vowed to carry the torch forward in her husband’s honor.
At the start of her speech, the devastated widow was seen mouthing ‘I love you’ to Charlie before addressing the audience.
In a devastating part of her moving speech, she described the moment she saw her husband’s dead body.
Mrs Kirk tearfully said that she experienced a ‘level of heartbreak she didn’t even knew existed.’
‘I felt shock, I felt horror,’ she told the audience. ‘But even in death I could see the man that I love,’ she added.
‘Even if Charlie had been shot in the operating room, nothing could have been done.’
The audience broke out into massive applause after Erika said Charlie joined his savior, Jesus Christ, in paradise.
Erika also gave thanks to Second Lady Usha Vance for comforting her in the moments following Kirk’s murder.
‘We didn’t see violence, we didn’t see rioting,’ Erika. ‘We didn’t see revolution. Instead we saw what my husband always prayed we would see in this country. We saw revival!’
With tears streaming across her face, she praised Americans for turning towards the church for the first time in decades following her husband’s death.
‘Even though Charlie died too early, he was ready to die,’ Erika continued. ‘Charlie died with incomplete work, but not unfinished business.’
President Donald Trump hugs an emotional Erika Kirk after inviting her on stage at the end of his speech. He said of Kirk’s assassination: ‘The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at every one of us’
In a powerful moment before tens of thousands of supporters, Erika addressed Robinson, who is accused of shooting Charlie Kirk in the throat earlier this month
Erika Kirk said in an interview she wants the government to decide if her husband’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, should get the death penalty
Robinson, 22, was arrested two days after he allegedly opened fire during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University
Erika was not with her husband when he was shot as she had to be with her mother who was undergoing medical treatment. The pair share two children together (pictured)
She went on to reveal that throughout their marriage Charlie would write her love notes with the question: ‘How can I better serve you as a husband?’
‘I was Charlie’s confidant,’ Erika said with sadness in her voice.
‘My marriage with Charlie was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I know it was the best for him as well. He wanted everyone to experience that joy.’
Erika went on to claim Charlie wanted to save ‘the lost boys of the west’ by encouraging them all to experience marriage and build a family.
‘When he spoke to young people, he was always eager to tell them about God’s vision for marriage,’ she added.
‘And how, if they could just dare to live it out, it would enrich every part of their life, just as it enriched ours.’
The new Turning Point USA CEO was met with a standing ovation, with shouts of ‘we love you’ upon entering the State Farm Stadium.
Tens of thousands of supporters gathered in State Farm Stadium to praise the legacy of the conservative activist after his assassination earlier this month.
In an interview with The New York Times published hours before the memorial, Erika said she wants the government to decide what happens to Tyler Robinson.
Days after she was announced as the CEO of his conservative grassroots organization, Turning Point USA, she vowed to carry on the movement in his honor
Erika Kirk spoke through tears and had the crowd of mourners on their feet with her poignant speech
‘I’ve had people ask, ‘Do you feel anger toward this man? Like, do you want to seek the death penalty?’ I’ll be honest. I told our lawyer, I want the government to decide this,’ Erika said.
She went on to say she does not want anything to do with the decision because it could create unwanted guilt, especially when it comes to her Christian faith.
‘I do not want that man’s blood on my ledger. Because when I get to heaven, and Jesus is like: ‘Uh, eye for an eye? Is that how we do it?’ And that keeps me from being in heaven, from being with Charlie?,’ Erika continued.
Speaking for the first time since her emotional speech just two days after her partner died, Erika revealed the exact moment she heard he’d been shot.
She had planned on traveling with him from Arizona to Utah that day, but she had to be with her mother who was undergoing medical treatment, Erika said.
President Donald Trump took the stage after Erika and revealed one of Charlie’s last pleas to him was to ‘save Chicago’.
President Donald Trump took the stage after Erika and revealed one of Charlie’s last pleas to him was to ‘save Chicago’
The president praised Kirk as one of his confidantes who would often give him advice before major announcements and events
In a powerful moment, Donald Trump and Elon Musk put aside their bitter public feud to unite in the president’s private box
Lip reader Nicola Hickling told the Daily Mail that Trump said he was glad to see Musk and was hoping they could reconcile
Vice President J.D. Vance paid tribute to his close friend Charlie Kirk during his moving tribute
Erika Kirk walks off the stage after delivering a powerful farewell to her late husband
Robert F.Kennedy Jr. and Cheryl Hines walk into the stadium for Charlie Kirk’s memorial service
Mourners watch from seats all around the stadium as President Trump delivers his farewell message
The crowd was full of emotion as powerful political figures remembered Charlie Kirk
‘One of the last things he [Charlie Kirk] said to me is: “Please sir, save Chicago” – we’re going to do that, we’re going to save Chicago,’ Trump said.
The president described Kirk as a confidante who would often call him with advice before major events or policy announcements.
Trump also credited the late firebrand for introducing him to Vice President J.D. Vance and for being an integral part of the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again).
‘Charles James Kirk was heinously murdered by a radicalized leftist for speaking the truth that was in his heart,’ the president added.
‘He was violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice, for God, touched 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.
‘Charlie’s murder was not just an attack on one man or one movement, it was an attack on our entire nation.
Trump also credited the late firebrand for introducing him to Vice President J.D. Vance and for being an integral part of the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again)
Mrs Kirk looked up to the heavens multiple times in homage to Charlie Kirk as she remembered their marriage
‘The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at every one of us.
‘Charlie is bigger than two weeks ago….think about it…he’s eternal. I just want to say we love him.
‘He’s looking down today and saying, “That’s a great crowd.”‘
Trump did admit that he disagreed with Kirk in one area: How he treated his opponents.
‘He did not hate his opponents,’ Trump said.
‘He wanted the best for them. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent and I don’t want the best for them.’
Trump closed out his remarks by inviting Mrs Kirk onto the stage and embracing her as the crowd stood.
Before his speech, Trump stunned the crowd by reuniting with Elon Musk, months after their bitter public feud.
The billionaire businessman was seen shaking the president’s hand inside his private box and having a brief conversation alongside UFC CEO and President Dana White.
Lip reader Nicola Hickling told Daily Mail that Trump said he was glad to see Musk and was hoping they could reconcile.