It felt more like a championship game than a memorial. By sunrise on Sunday, crowds were already heading to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. People carried flags, sang hymns, and stood shoulder to shoulder for hours before everything began.Among those watching from the stands was Elon Musk.
The billionaire shared a video on X that showed the sheer size of the crowd.
“Every seat in this giant arena that isn’t roped off for security is packed to the ceiling. Honored to be here. All for Charlie Kirk,” Musk wrote in his caption, letting the footage speak for itself. The clip quickly spread across the platform, pulling in millions of views.
The gathering honored Charlie Kirk, the 33-year-old conservative activist shot dead during a campus debate in Utah on September 10. Organizers expected more than 70,000 people inside the stadium, with another 19,000 filling an overflow arena next door. Local police described the turnout as one of the largest events Arizona has seen in years.
Kirk’s Memorial With Political Weight
The scale of the event reflected Kirk’s reach. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance headlined the speaker list. Trump told supporters on Saturday night, “We will pay tribute to a great man.”
Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, also addressed the crowd. She announced she would step into her late husband’s role at Turning Point USA. “Charlie’s mission will continue,” she said, drawing loud applause.
Other speakers included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard. White House adviser Stephen Miller vowed to crack down on liberal dissent in Kirk’s name, a message that sparked both cheers inside the stadium and protests outside in a designated free speech zone.
Security remained at the forefront. The Department of Homeland Security classified the event as a top-level security operation, similar to the Super Bowl. Glendale police confirmed every available officer worked the detail, alongside federal agents, drones, and the Secret Service. Authorities reported one arrest on Friday after a man entered the stadium armed, though organizers later said he worked in private security.
Although Tyler Robinson is arrested in charge of the murder but still the sheer emotion of the morning echoed across Glendale. Crowds prayed, sang, and waved flags as they waited to enter. Musk’s short video captured that mood in a way words could not.
