Trump, Vance, Rubio, RFK Jr among officials to give remarks at Charlie Kirk public memorial service

Erika Kirk, President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance will headline remarks for the Charlie Kirk public memorial service set for Sept. 21 at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Turning Point USA has announced. 

Others slated to give remarks at the memorial are White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, Stephen Miller, and US Ambassador to India nominee Sergio Gor.

Turning Point USA announced Sept. 13 that the memorial will celebrate “the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Charlie Kirk, an American legend.” Details regarding the event are on the FightForCharlie website.

Entry is first come, first served, and the organization asks attendees to wear red, white, or blue “Sunday Best” attire. Guests are also not permitted to bring any bags, including clear ones, into the stadium. There will be “TSA-level screening” for security, according to the website. 

The memorial will be live-streamed from Charlie Kirk’s Rumble account. 

A number of popular Christian singers are going to sing at the memorial as well: Chris Tomlin, Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, Kari Jobe Carnes, and Cody Carnes. According to the Salt Palace Museum, Tomlin will sing “How Great is Our God,” which was Kirk’s favorite hymn. 

More names will be announced later, according to the FightForCharlie website. 

In an Instagram post, Tomlin said that his heart and prayers are with Erika Kirk and her children, adding, “what a tragic moment for our nation. I appreciate how Charlie was bold and unashamed in his faith…” 

In an Instagram video post, Lake said that Kirk’s death hit him hard. Lake also said that he has been praying for the Kirk family and that he and his own family have “been sick to our stomachs” since the tragedy. 

“The man was representing Christ in the way he felt called to represent Christ, and he lost his life over it,” Lake later said. 

He described the tragedy as “eye opening” and “sobering,” especially as someone who also has a platform. 

He added that Kirk’s death has broken his heart and struck him with fear, but he later added that he has “felt God remove that fear with his love,” giving him “a renewed confidence and a surety that… I do believe this and I will represent this and share the gospel, no matter the cost and the way that I feel God’s calling me to do that.”