The widow of Charlie Kirk forgave her husband\u2019s killer in front of tens of thousands of people at his public memorial service, before President Donald Trump declared his \u201chate\u201d for his opponents in a contrasting, politically-charged speech.<\/p>\n
Trump was the headline speaker Sunday at Kirk\u2019s public memorial service at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona and immediately followed Erika Kirk\u2019s powerful speech.<\/p>\n
The 36-year-old often choked back tears as she spoke and looked overcome with emotion whenever the crowd applauded and responded to her heartfelt words.<\/p>\n
Before Trump took to the stage, the widow recalled going to see her husband\u2019s body in the hospital where he died as she said she forgave the shooter who killed him at the Utah Valley University campus on September 10.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy husband, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,\u201d she began. \u201cThat man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and it is what Charlie would do.\u201d<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump embraces Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, after speaking at the public memorial service (AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump said that he \u201chates\u201d his political opponents after Erika Kirk forgave her husband\u2019s killer in an emotional tribute (AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
An emotional Erika Kirk broke down after her speech, where she forgave her husband\u2019s killer (Getty Images)\u201cThe answer to hate is not hate,\u201d the widow added, in stark contrast to the president\u2019s words. \u201cThe answer we know from the gospel is love and always love, love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Erika Kirk claimed that her husband\u2019s death did not prompt \u201crevolution,\u201d but sparked a \u201crevival\u201d in the U.S. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn’t see rioting. We didn’t see revolution,\u201d she said. \u201cInstead, we saw what my husband always prayed he would see in this country. We saw revival.\u201d<\/p>\n
When it was Trump\u2019s turn to round off the lengthy ceremony, the president apologized in jest to Kirk and his widow for \u201cdisagreeing\u201d with them when it comes to dealing with political foes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them,\u201d Trump said of Kirk. \u201cThat’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponents, and I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry,\u201d Trump added. \u201cI am sorry Erika.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCharlie\u2019s angry…he\u2019s angry at me, \u201c Trump added. <\/p>\n
During the president\u2019s tribute to Kirk, he also segued into claiming his administration has \u201cfound an answer to autism,\u201d and went off on tangents about his trade tariffs.<\/p>\n
Erika Kirk preached a different message to the president during her husband\u2019s memorial. (AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Stephen Miller delivered fiery remarks where he lashed out at \u2018our enemies\u2019 (REUTERS)\u201cIt was Charlie who helped unite MAGA. And you know what MAHA is, that’s right. Make America Health Again,\u201d Trump said, before touting a White House press conference scheduled for Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you’re going to find it to be amazing. I think we found an answer to autism. How about that autism?\u201d Trump said. \u201cTomorrow, we’re going to be talking in the oval office in the White House about autism, how it happens. So we won’t let it happen anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the president\u2019s speech concluded, he shared a brief embrace with Erika Kirk on stage.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s family, members of his Cabinet, GOP lawmakers and Elon Musk were among the tens of thousands of supporters who turned out to honor Kirk.<\/p>\n
White House officials, prominent MAGA figures and Kirk\u2019s colleagues from Turning Point USA gave tributes to the murdered CEO in the lengthy ceremony, described by one speaker as \u201cthe Holy Spirit in a Trump rally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vice President JD Vance said that Kirk was \u201ca martyr for the Christian faith.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America and defending the truth than it is to die on our knees,\u201d Vance said. \u201cMy friends, for Charlie, we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many in attendance were praying and crying before the service had even begun. (REUTERS)<\/p>\n
National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard said that Kirk stood up to schools that \u201csilence debate.\u201d (AP)<\/p>\n
People pray and sing at Kirk\u2019s memorial (Getty Images)Some of Trump\u2019s most senior officials, including White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and deputy Stephen Miller, spoke at the memorial.<\/p>\n
Miller\u2019s speech focused on prevailing \u201cover the forces of wickedness and evil,\u201d with Trump\u2019s deputy chief of staff also hitting out at \u201cour enemies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have no idea the dragon you have awakened, you have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilization, to save the West, to save this republic,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd to those trying to incite violence against us, those trying to foment hatred against us, what do you have? You have nothing. You are nothing. You are wickedness. You are jealousy, you are envy, you are hatred.\u201d<\/p>\n
Secretary of State Marco Rubio railed against the \u201cthreat of Marxism\u201d on college campuses, while National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard said that Kirk stood up to schools that \u201csilence debate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking in Washington, D.C. before he departed for Arizona, Trump said that 10 years ago, colleges were \u201cdangerous for conservatives\u201d and \u201cnow they\u2019re hot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kirk was assassinated on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem on September 10 in front of a crowd of horrified students. He was shot in the neck by a single bullet. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe did a tremendous job, and he had a hold on youth because they loved him,\u201d Trump said. \u201cIf you go back 10 years, those colleges were dangerous places for conservatives and now they’re hot. They’re very hot, just like this country is hot.\u201d<\/p>\n
A sea of people dressed in red, white and blue descended on the stadium in the early hours of Sunday, waiting in line well before dawn to ensure they secured a spot inside the arena, which has a capacity of more than 63,000. <\/p>\n
Emotional mourners were seen in the crowd (REUTERS)<\/p>\n
A packed State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AFP via Getty Images)Pictures inside the stadium showed people in the crowd praying and crying before the service had even begun.<\/p>\n
Security for the event was high, with the Department of Homeland Security affording it the same level reserved for Super Bowls.<\/p>\n
Kirk\u2019s accused killer, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson of Utah, was formally charged with murder last week as prosecutors announced they intend to seek the death penalty.<\/p>\n
Trump has previously blamed the \u201cradical left\u201d for Kirk’s death and threatened to go after liberal organizations and donors or others whom he feels are maligning or celebrating his death.<\/p>\n
Federal investigators have found no evidence linking Robinson to left-wing groups, despite claims from Trump and his administration , three sources told NBC News.<\/p>\n
The trio of insiders is reportedly familiar with the probe into the case, which, as of now, appears to revolve around Robinson, 22, acting alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery indication so far is that this was one guy who did one really bad thing because he found Kirk\u2019s ideology personally offensive,\u201d one person said.<\/p>\n
Robinson\u2019s mother told investigators that he had recently become more politically active and leaned left.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The widow of Charlie Kirk forgave her husband\u2019s killer in front of tens of thousands of people at his public memorial service, before President Donald Trump declared his \u201chate\u201d for his opponents in a contrasting, politically-charged speech. Trump was the headline speaker Sunday at Kirk\u2019s public memorial service at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n