Summary
Donald Trump declined to deliver a message of national unity when he addressed tens of thousands of people gathered for the memorial to honor Charlie Kirk on Sunday – instead exclaiming that he “hates my opponents” and “doesn’t want what’s best for them”.
Here are the key moments of the day at a glance:
Donald Trump berated his political opponents in a speech that was part tribute and part a catalogue of grievances. The president praised Kirk as an “American martyr”, calling him “a giant of his generation”.
But Trump also talked about sending troops to Chicago, making a major autism announcement and complained about the outrage sparked by the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night comedy show. He hit out at the “radical left” and Joe Biden in a freewheeling address that was reminiscent of a campaign speech.
Elon Musk was spotted meeting Trump on the sidelines of the event. The two men shook hands months after a public falling out.
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, publicly forgave the person charged with killed her husband. Appearing to talk about the suspect, she told the crowd: “That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and it is what Charlie would do.”
JD Vance was among speakers at the event, making multiple references to conservative talking points including anti-abortion sentiments and religiously-guided family values. Vance said: “He brought the truth that marriage and family were the highest callings, far more important than any job or educational credential.”
Other notable speakers included Pete Hegseth (who called Kirk a “warrior for Christ” in a decidedly martial speech; Marco Rubio, who compared Kirk to historical figures including Jesus; and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, who told unspecified “enemies” that “You are nothing. You are wickedness”.
Donald Trump Jr used his speech to claim ‘we don’t silence’ opponents. Dozens of workers across the country, ranging from journalists to popular late-night show host Jimmy Kimmel, have been penalized as employers and public officials crack down on remarks that they regard as “inappropriate” towards Kirk.
Some 100,000 people are thought to have attended in and around the State Farm arena in Glendale, Arizona. Several attendees were leaving the stadium while Trump was speaking. Many in the crowd had turned up before dawn to secure a seat. By the time the event finished, they had been there more than 12 hours.
Updated
The Guardian’s Lauren Gambino was among those who spent around 12 hours at the memorial venue to report on the service for Charlie Kirk.
She sends this dispatch from the ground:
The memorial was part spiritual revival and part political rally, with the program that included Donald Trump and prominent members of the president’s Make America Great Again (Maga) movement. Mourners obliged the red, white and blue “Sunday best” dress code request, filling the at-capacity domed stadium with stars, stripes and Maga hats.
“We’ve got it from here,” vice-president JD Vance said, memorializing Kirk, his friend and the founder of the youth activist group Turning Point USA as one of the most pre-eminent voices on the American right.
Emotions were raw in the arena as Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, took the stage and inhaled deeply. Dabbing tears from her eyes, she began her remarks to the rapt stadium, Trump among them.
Updated
