Image of President Donald trump and Charlie Kirk (L-R)

Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday described slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a “martyr for American freedom” during a memorial event attended by tens of thousands in Arizona.

Kirk, 31, was killed on September 10 at a Utah university campus. His death drew widespread reactions from supporters and critics alike, with Sunday’s memorial becoming both a religious and politically charged gathering.

Addressing nearly 65,000 mourners at a stadium in the southwestern state, Trump said Kirk’s life and death would serve as a lasting symbol for his movement. “He’s a martyr now for American freedom,” Trump declared to a cheering crowd chanting “USA! USA! USA!”

Supporters from across the country turned out in red, white, and blue attire. Between speeches, Christian rock songs were performed, with attendees singing along, underscoring the religious tone of the event.

“He’s a Christ martyr, definitely,” said Monica Mirelez, a 44-year-old nurse who drove more than 12 hours from Texas to attend. She told AFP she followed Kirk’s videos daily on Instagram. “It’s so sad that he was silenced like this. It feels like losing a brother.”

Nick Chisholm, a 15-year-old high school student, said he was disturbed by some peers’ reaction. “They laughed; they said he deserved it. Whatever he said, he didn’t deserve to be killed for speaking his opinion and his beliefs.”

Senior Trump adviser Stephen Miller told the audience that Kirk’s death would embolden the movement. “You have no idea the dragon you have awakened,” he said. “You have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilisation, to save the West.”

Others linked Kirk’s activism to a broader cultural struggle. Welsley Inglis, a 61-year-old mechanical engineer from California, argued that Democrats and left-leaning groups fuelled hostility toward Kirk. He praised the activist for “bringing the youth back to the church and changing their minds.”

While some attendees demanded a tougher response to left-wing activism, others echoed calls for forgiveness. Jeremy Schlotman, a 21-year-old Catholic and member of Turning Point USA, the organisation founded by Kirk, said he forgave the alleged shooter. Kirk’s widow, Erika, also conveyed a similar message in her address.

“I think that’s the best response to what the shooter did,” Schlotman said. “Kill one, and a thousand more will rise. That’s what’s happening—the shooter just created a generation of new Charlies. We’re all Charlie Kirk now.”