Charlie Kirk was honored Sunday as tens of thousands of admirers turned out in Arizona to pay tribute to the Christian conservative juggernaut.
Mr. Kirk’s widow Erika, President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and several members of the Trump administration are scheduled to address more than 63,000 people at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.
Tens of thousands more were expected to watch from the overflow area at the nearby Desert Diamond Arena.
The event began with bagpipers playing “Amazing Grace,” followed by a performance from country music star Chris Tomlin and a prayer from his pastor, Rob McCoy.
“Charlie looked at politics as an onramp to Jesus,” Mr. McCoy said. “He knew if he could get all of you rowing in the streams of liberty, you would come to its source, and that is the Lord.”
The event is playing out less than two weeks after Mr. Kirk, the 31-year-old co–founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during an appearance at Utah Valley University.
He had two children.
The memorial had all the trappings of a state funeral, with the Department of Homeland Security giving the memorial its highest security designation, which traditionally is reserved for Super Bowl events.
Before he departed for Arizona, Mr. Trump told reporters that it was “a very tough day.”
“We’re here to celebrate the life of a great man. Really a great man,” Mr. Trump said. “A young man. We look forward to it. That something like this could’ve happened is not even believable. Will be a very interesting day.”
The deep reservoir of support for Mr. Kirk has been on full display since his assassination, as people across the globe have held memorials and vigils in his honor.
