Charlie Kirk funeral live updates: Widow Erika describes the final moments with husband in hospital as 200,000 attend memorial service

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.

Bagpipers played Amazing Grace as Charlie Kirk’s memorial got underway at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Elon Musk is seen with Florida senator Rick Scott ahead of the beginning of the memorial service for Charlie Kirk.

The conservative pundit posted a message on social media as she arrived at Charlie Kirk’s memorial in Arizona on Sunday.

President Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump shared a video of Air Force One landing in Arizona.

The president is one of the speakers expected at Charlie Kirk’s memmorial in Glendale.

He was traveling with House Speaker Mike Johnson, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and several members of his cabinet.

Trfump’s son in law Jared Kushner was also aoard Air Force One.

Lawyer and former United States Representative Matt Gaetz reacts ahead of the public memorial service of political activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona

Gaetz was accompanied by his wife, Ginger Gaetz.

Sounds of Christian worship fill the air at the State Farm Stadium with less than thirty minutes before the official start of the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk who was assassinated on September 10th.

The stadium is packed to the rafters, minus a few sections of seats right next to the stage.Since the official event entry time of 8:00 AM, a slew of Christian artists have performed a variety of worship songs.

Despite the scorching hot temperatures outside of the venue, inside the stadium is air-conditioned and the roof of the stadium is closed.

The floor is filled with various conservative political media and VIPS, as well as Turning Point staff and alumni who are seated on white plastic folding chairs.

Press is also seated on the floor, with the TV risers situated in the middle of the VIP section. Print press are behind the VIP section.

Religious extremist group the Westboro Baptist Church picketed Charlie Kirk’s funeral on Sunday with repugnant signs.

One sign read ‘God sent the shooter in fury,’ while another said ‘it should be public, it should be quick, it should be televised.’

The group, known for its inflammatory protests at funerals and public events, has long drawn widespread condemnation for its hate-filled rhetoric.

The service will take place at State Farm Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, where Kirk’s Turning Point organization is based.

Security is expected to be tight, with a similar level of federal law enforcement presence as for the Super Bowl or other high-profile event.

A general view shows State Farm Stadium before the start of the public memorial service for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk in Glendale, Arizona

People gather to attend a memorial service for slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk

Kirk’s funeral has been given the highest level of security by the Department of Homeland Security – a SEAR Level 1.

The designation allowed the full range of federal law enforcement and security to support local officials.

Security personnel keep a lookout from a roof, on the day of a memorial service for slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

Members of a sniper team keep a lookout, on the day of a memorial service for slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

‘A lot of people are not prepared for the heat,’ a police officer told the New York Post.

Temperatures in Glendale are expected to reach 95 degrees on Sunday and a severe weather alert is in effect.

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.

Republican Representative from Colorado Lauren Boebert (R) attends the public memorial service of political activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium.

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.

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.

JD Vance is expected to attend the funeral on Sunday.

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.’

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

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.

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.

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’.

• 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

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.’

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.