""On that day, this evangelist for American liberty became immortal," Trump said Sunday before tens of thousands of mourners inside the State Farm stadium in Glendale, Arizona. "He's a martyr now for American freedom." Trump described how Kirk would ask him to fly across the country to appear at his events with little notice. "You never wanted to let Charlie down," Trump said. "He worked so hard you just didn't want to let him down.""
"But Trump also angrily attacked liberals and pledged to continue investigations of groups he accused of fostering violence. "He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them," he said. "That's where I disagree with Charlie. I hate my opponent. And I don't want the best for them." Trump also invoked one of his final exchanges with Kirk to support his long-threatened plan send in federal forces to crack down on crime in Chicago. "We're going to have Charlie very much in mind when we go to Chicago," he said."
"Moments earlier, Erika Kirk, vowed to continue her husband's legacy, enrolling more campuses and students in the conservative movement he founded. Kirk eulogized her husband in a tearful speech near the end of an hours-long memorial service for the conservative activist who was killed on Sept. 10. The service was heavily focused on Kirk's Christian faith. One of the most powerful moments came in Erika Kirk's remarks, when she offered not a political message, but one of faith and forgiveness. "I forgive him," she said of the man who killed her husband."
President Donald Trump proclaimed Charlie Kirk a martyr for American freedom at a large memorial in Glendale, Arizona. Trump recounted personal exchanges with Kirk, attacked liberals, pledged investigations of groups he accused of fostering violence, and invoked Kirk to justify plans to send federal forces to Chicago. Trump contrasted Kirk's stated desire for the best for opponents with his own declaration of hatred for opponents and called the accused killer "the depraved assassin," saying God willing the killer will receive the ultimate punishment. Erika Kirk forgave the man who killed her husband and vowed to expand his conservative movement; the service emphasized Kirk's Christian faith and noted the accused has been charged.
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