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More than 100,000, including many Trump admin officials, turned out for Charlie Kirk Memorial. The State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ, with 63,400 seats and a maximum capacity of 73,000, filled up completely within hours of opening at 8am local time. Thousands more mourners occupied an overflow venue and stood outside it. Speakers at the service included White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk, and Vice President JD Vance. President Donald Trump was the last to take the podium. The event also reunited President Trump and Elon Musk publicly for the first time since May.
Kirk’s Christian faith, organizing ability served as dual focuses of memorial. Vice President JD Vance said that members of the administration attended not just because they were personal friends with Kirk, but also because “we know we wouldn’t be here without him. Charlie built an organization that reshaped the balance of our politics,” referring to Turning Point USA, the nonprofit organization Kirk founded in 2012 to advocate for conservative politics on high school and college campuses. Erika Kirk spoke for about 30 minutes. She said her husband died with “unfinished business” and expressed gratitude for being the next CEO of the organization, vowing, “Now his mission is my mission.” And of her husband’s killer, she said, “I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and is what Charlie would do. The answer to hate is not hate.”
Western nations recognize Palestinian statehood. The UK, Canada, and Australia coordinated their formal recognition of a Palestinian state ahead of the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly taking place this week in New York. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in his recorded announcement, “We recognized the state of Israel more than 75 years ago as a homeland for the Jewish people. Today, we join over 150 countries who recognize a Palestinian state also.” Portugal also announced its recognition yesterday, and more countries, including France, are expected to follow suit during the meeting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the move, saying, “A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.” Hamas said the newly announced recognition is the “rightful outcome of our people’s struggle, steadfastness, and sacrifices on the path to liberation and return.” The group is sworn to Israel’s destruction. The United States is opposed to the recognition of a Palestinian state, which President Trump reiterated after he met with Starmer in the UK last week, although he said he wanted the war in Gaza to end.—HVL
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