Erika Kirk fought back tears as she forgave her late husband’s suspected assassin in a heartbreaking moment during the memorial service for Charlie Kirk on Sunday.
The mother of two was speaking before jam-packed stadium in Glendale, Arizona when she addressed Tyler Robinson, who is accused of fatally shooting the conservative activist while he was speaking to students at Utah Valley University.
Erika Kirk told the crowd of more than 60,000 mourners at State Farm Stadium that her late husband would have wanted her to forgive his killer.
‘He [Charlie] wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life,’ Erika said, sparking roars from the crowd and a standing ovation.
‘That man, that young man, I forgive him,’ Erika Kirk said while breaking into tears.
Spectators were in tears throughout as she remembered the father of her two children, their marriage and his legacy.
President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and members of the cabinet joined Erika Kirk to give emotional farewells to Kirk after his assassination on September 10.
Trump honored his late friend’s role in helping him get elected in 2024 and said: ‘The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at every one of us’.
Robinson was arrested two days later and has been charged with capital murder, with prosecutors and the Trump administration pushing for him to receive the death penalty in a state that uses the firing squad in executions.
More than 200,000 mourners lined up before the sun rose to try to get into the arena, the home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.


But thousands were turned away as both the stadium and the overflow venue next door reached capacity hours before the start.
Just days after being named CEO of Turning Point USA, Mrs Kirk vowed to carry the torch forward in her husband’s honor.
At the start of her speech, the devastated widow was seen mouthing ‘I love you’ to Charlie before addressing the audience.
In a devastating part of her moving speech, she described the moment she saw her husband’s dead body.
Mrs Kirk tearfully said that she experienced a ‘level of heartbreak she didn’t even knew existed.’
‘I felt shock, I felt horror,’ she told the audience. ‘But even in death I could see the man that I love,’ she added.
‘Even if Charlie had been shot in the operating room, nothing could have been done.’
The audience broke out in to massive applause after Erika said Charlie joined his savior, Jesus Christ, in paradise.
Erika also gave thanks to Second Lady Usha Vance for comforting her in the moments following Kirk’s murder.
‘We didn’t see violence, we didn’t see rioting,’ Erika. ‘We didn’t see revolution. Instead we saw what my husband always prayed we would see in this country. We saw revival!’
With tears streaming across her face, she praised Americans for turning towards the church for the first time in decades following her husband’s death.
Even though Charlie died too early, he was ready to die,’ Erika continued. ‘Charlie died with incomplete work, but not unfinished business.’





She went on to reveal that throughout their marriage Charlie would write her love notes with the question: ‘How can I better serve you as a husband?’
‘I was Charlie’s confidant,’ Erika said with sadness in her voice.
‘My marriage with Charlie was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I know it was the best for him as well. He wanted everyone to experience that joy.’
Erika went on to claim Charlie wanted to save ‘the lost boys of the west’ by encouraging them all to experience marriage and build a family.
‘When he spoke to young people, he was always eager to tell them about God’s vision for marriage,’ she added.
‘And how, if they could just dare to live it out, it would enrich every part of their life, just as it enriched ours.’
The new Turning Point USA CEO was met with a standing ovation, with shouts of ‘we love you’ upon entering the State Farm Stadium.
Tens of thousands of supporters gathered in State Farm Stadium to praise the legacy of the conservative activist after his assassination earlier this month.
In an interview with The New York Times published hours before the memorial, Erika said she wants the government to decide what happens to Tyler Robinson.

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Days after she was announced as the CEO of his conservative grassroots organization, Turning Point USA, she vowed to carry on the movement in his honor

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Erika Kirk spoke through tears and had the crowd of mourners on their feet with her poignant speech
‘I’ve had people ask, ‘Do you feel anger toward this man? Like, do you want to seek the death penalty?’ I’ll be honest. I told our lawyer, I want the government to decide this,’ Erika said.
She went on to say she does not want anything to do with the decision because it could create unwanted guilt, especially when it comes to her Christian faith.
‘I do not want that man’s blood on my ledger. Because when I get to heaven, and Jesus is like: ‘Uh, eye for an eye? Is that how we do it?’ And that keeps me from being in heaven, from being with Charlie?,’ Erika continued.
Speaking for the first time since her emotional speech just two days after her partner died, Erika revealed the exact moment she heard he’d been shot.
She had planned on traveling with him from Arizona to Utah that day, but she had to be with her mother who was undergoing medical treatment, Erika said.
President Donald Trump took the stage after Erika and revealed one of Charlie’s last pleas to him was to ‘save Chicago’.









‘The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at every one of us.
‘Charlie is bigger than two weeks ago….think about it…he’s eternal. I just want to say we love him.
‘He’s looking down today and saying, “That’s a great crowd.”‘
Trump did admit that he disagreed with Kirk in one area: How he treated his opponents.
‘He did not hate his opponents,’ Trump said.
‘He wanted the best for them. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent and I don’t want the best for them.’
Trump closed out his remarks by inviting Mrs Kirk onto the stage and embracing her as the crowd stood.
Before his speech, Trump stunned the crowd by reuniting with Elon Musk, months after their bitter public feud.
The billionaire businessman was seen shaking the president’s hand inside his private box and having a brief conversation alongside UFC CEO and President Dana White.
Lip reader Nicola Hickling told Daily Mail that Trump said he was glad to see Musk and was hoping they could reconcile.
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