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By PHILLIP NIETO, US POLITICAL REPORTER and VICTORIA CHURCHILL and GERMANIA RODRIGUEZ POLEO, US CHIEF REPORTER
Updated:
Erika Kirk said her husband, Charlie, 'died happy' in hospital as she recalled his final moments after the shooting that claimed his life.
'His eyes were semi-open. And he had this knowing, Mona Lisa-like half-smile. Like he’d died happy. Like Jesus rescued him. The bullet came, he blinked, and he was in heaven,' she told the New York TImes.
President Donald Trump will lead mourners at the funeral of Charlie Kirk, addressing tens of thousands expected to gather inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Lines of mourners snaked outside the venue for hours ahead of the memorial for the conservative firebrand, who was assassinated at Utah Valley University on September 10.
Trump will be joined on stage by Vice President J.D. Vance and senior members of his Cabinet, with security around the stadium described as 'extraordinarily tight.'
Kirk’s widow, Erika, will also deliver a eulogy — just days after it was announced she will succeed her late husband as head of his powerhouse organization, Turning Point USA.
Follow all the live updates:
Charlie Kirk looked like 'he'd died happy,' his widow Erika says
The conservative's widow said she met with a sheriff who gave her the option to see Charlie's body - something he advised against because of the severe damage the bullet did to his neck.
But she said she insisted in seeing her husband one last time, and recalled telling the sheriff, 'With all due respect, I want to see what they did to my husband.'
Once his deceased body was in front of her, Erika said she knew 'he'd died happy.'
'His eyes were semi-open. And he had this knowing, Mona Lisa-like half-smile. Like he’d died happy. Like Jesus rescued him. The bullet came, he blinked, and he was in heaven,' she said, adding that she kissed him - something that she didn't do before he left the house that morning.
Officials report 'a lot of medical' emergencies' at Charlie Kirk memorial
“A lot of people are not prepared for the heat,' a police office told the New York Post.
Temperatures in Glendale are expected to reach 95 degrees on Sunday and a severe weather alert is in effect.
Charlie Kirk memorial stadium near full capacity
The State Farm Stadium is near full capacity an hour before the memorial for Charlie Kirk is set to begin on Sunday in Glendale, Arizona.
At least 200,000 people have shown up to honor the conservative commentator, 31.
Those who did not manage to get inside the stadium are being directed to the Desert Diamond Arena, an overflow location.
More than 200,000 mourners are expected to try to attend the service.
Rep Lauren Boebert present at Charlie Kirk's funeral
Republican Representative from Colorado Lauren Boebert (R) attends the public memorial service of political activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium.
Kyle Rittenhouse pictured at Charlie Kirk memorial
Kyle Rittenhouse (R) poses for a photo with an attendee during the public memorial service of political activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on 21 September 2025.
Rittenhouse was acquitted of all charges in 2021 after testifying he acted in self-defense in the deadly Kenosha shootings that became a flashpoint in the debate over guns, vigilantism and racial injustice in the US.
Kirk was shot and killed on September 10 during a stop on his American Comeback Tour organized by Turning Point USA at Utah Valley University.
WATCH: Ilhan Omar slammed after calling for Charlie Kirk to be 'left in the dust bin of history'
The Democrat congresswoman from Minnesota refused to apologize during a heated interview on CNN insisting she would not be 'judged' for rejecting tributes to Kirk.
'What I find jarring is that there are so many people willing to excuse the most reprehensible things that he said, that they agree with that, that they're willing to have monuments for him, that they want to create a day to honor him, and that they want to produce resolutions in the House of Congress honoring his life and legacy,' Omar told anchor Kaitlan Collins.
VP JD Vance issues tribute for Charlie Kirk ahead of funeral
JD Vance is expected to attend the funeral on Sunday.
White House sending 'two planeloads of staffers' to Charlie Kirk funeral
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News that the White House would be sending two planes full of staffers to Charlie Kirk's funeral in Arizona.
'We’re actually taking two planes full of white House staff,' Leavitt said on Saturday.
'That just speaks to how many people [Kirk] touched at the highest levels of our government. And he will surely be honored and remembered tomorrow.'
WATCH: Candace Owens rages after being snubbed from Charlie Kirk memorial speaking roster
The Daily Mail asked right-wing provocateur Candace Owens on Thursday to share details of her relationship with Charlie Kirk, and whether or not she planned to attend or speak at his memorial service in Arizona on Sunday.
Owens alleged earlier this week that billionaire Bill Ackman was angered by Kirk's souring views on Israel and that 'threats were made,' by Ackman weeks before Kirk's death - a story that has triggered fierce backlash and fueled an online rumor mill of conspiracy theories, including that Israel was somehow responsible for Kirk's death.
The rumors got so pervasive that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had to directly deny them on two separate occasion
White House pays tribute to Charlie Kirk with moving video
Who will perform at Charlie Kirk's funeral?
Multiple Christian music artists will perform at Kirk's memorial in Arizona on Sunday, including Brandon Lake, Chris Tomlin and Phil Wickham.
Country singer Lee Greenwood and Steve Amerson are also scheduled to perform at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
Lee Greenwood performs as President-elect Donald Trump arrives at a rally ahead of the 60th Presidential Inauguration, Sunday, January 29.
WATCH LIVE: Charlie Kirk's memorial in Glendale, Arizona
How America will say farewell to Charlie Kirk: All the details
Tens of thousands of mourners are expected to turn out for a memorial service for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Arizona on Sunday, with Donald Trump and Kirk's widow among the growing lineup of political figures set to speak.
The 31-year-old right-wing commentator was shot and killed during an open-air speaking event at a college campus Utah on September 10.
His death has prompted fierce political debate around upholding free speech and the threat of political violence to American democracy.
Who are Charlie Kirk's parents? Humble roots of the MAGA star
TPUSA reveals identity of gunman who snuck into Charlie Kirk memorial arena... and why he was there
Charlie Kirk's final miracle revealed by surgeon who examined fatal neck wound
200,000 people expected to attend Charlie Kirk's memorial
More than 200,000 people have registered to attend Charlie Kirk’s memorial service — far exceeding the capacity of State Farm Stadium, home to the Arizona Cardinals, which seats 63,000.
An additional 19,000 mourners will be accommodated at Desert Diamond Arena nearby, which will serve as an official overflow venue.
Hundreds of Secret Service agents have been deployed to the site, and the security has been described as 'Super Bowl-level'.
Sections of the stadium already filling up, three hours before start of the service
Who is Charlie Kirk's widow Erika?
Charlie Kirk built a $100m empire after dropping out of college
Who is speaking at Charlie Kirk's funeral
Erika Kirk, Turning Point USA CEO and Charlie Kirk's widow
President Donald Trump
Vice President JD Vance
Secretary of State Marco Rubio
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard
White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller
Donald Trump Jr.
Tucker Carlson
Sick truth behind attempt to turn Charlie Kirk's murder into a romantic tragedy of star-crossed lovers
Erika Kirk's startled friends reveal their fears after husband Charlie's assassination... and what she plans next: 'That's just so not her'
President Trump says Kirk's memorial will be a 'tough day' and a 'celebration of a great man'
President Donald Trump vowed that Charlie Kirk's memorial in Arizona would be 'a celebration of a great man' as he departed the White House this morning.
Speaking solemnly, Trump said the service would also be a 'time of healing' for a movement left reeling by Kirk's assassination.
'That something like this could have happened is not even believable,' he told reporters. 'It will be a very interesting day — a very tough day.'
When asked what message he had for Kirk's family, Trump's voice softened: 'I will just give them my love. There's nothing much you can say.'
The president hailed Kirk's legacy, describing how the 31-year-old conservative leader 'had a hold on youth because they loved him, they respected him.' The service, he added, will shine a light on Kirk's 'tremendous influence… for such a young man, he did a great job.'
Steve Bannon arrives for Charlie Kirk's memorial service
Traffic at a standstill outside the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
Drone footage shows enormous crowds outside Charlie Kirk memorial service
Thousands line up for Charlie Kirk's funeral
Thousands of mourners lined up in the early hours of Sunday morning for the funeral of Charlie Kirk in Glendale, Arizona.
Most of the attendees were wearing red, white and blue as they snaked around the State Farm Stadium.
Security was extremely tight, with President Donald Trump and members of the Cabinet scheduled to speak.
