Charlie Kirk funeral live updates: Trump to join tens of thousands in Arizona for

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.’

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.

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.

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

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.