Erika Kirk’s heartbreaking tribute ends in forgiveness for Tyler Robinson at Charlie’s memorial.
Erika Kirk fought back tears as she forgave her late husband’s suspected killer during a heartbreaking moment at Charlie Kirk’s memorial on Sunday.
Speaking before a packed stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the mother of two addressed Tyler Robinson — accused of fatally shooting the conservative activist while he spoke to students at Utah Valley University.
She told more than 60,000 mourners at State Farm Stadium that Charlie would have wanted her to forgive, adding, “He wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life.” Her words drew roars of support and a standing ovation.
“That man, that young man, I forgive him,” Erika Kirk said through tears as she spoke at her husband’s memorial.
The audience wept with her as she reflected on the father of her two children, their marriage, and his legacy.
President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and cabinet members joined Erika in honoring Kirk after his September 10 assassination. Trump praised his late friend’s pivotal role in the 2024 election, declaring, “The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at every one of us.”
Tyler Robinson was arrested two days later and charged with capital murder, with both prosecutors and the Trump administration calling for the death penalty — a punishment that in the state includes the firing squad.
Before dawn, more than 200,000 mourners lined up outside the NFL Arizona Cardinals’ arena in hopes of attending the service.
Thousands were turned away as both the stadium and the overflow venue next door filled to capacity hours before the service began.
Only days after being appointed CEO of Turning Point USA, Erika Kirk pledged to carry her late husband’s mission forward.
Before beginning her remarks, the grieving widow mouthed “I love you” to Charlie, a tender gesture seen by the audience.
In one of the most heartbreaking moments of her speech, she recounted the instant she laid eyes on her husband’s body.
Fighting through tears, she described a “level of heartbreak I didn’t even know existed,” telling mourners, “I felt shock, I felt horror. But even in death, I could see the man that I love.”
“Even if Charlie had been shot in the operating room, nothing could have saved him,” Erika said.
The crowd erupted in applause when she declared that Charlie had joined his savior, Jesus Christ, in paradise.
She also expressed gratitude to Second Lady Usha Vance for comforting her in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“We didn’t see violence, we didn’t see rioting, we didn’t see revolution,” Erika said. “Instead, we saw what my husband always prayed this nation would witness — we saw revival!”
Through tears, she praised Americans for turning to the church for the first time in decades after Charlie’s death.
“Though Charlie’s life was cut short, he was ready to meet his end,” she added. “He died with incomplete work, but not unfinished business.”
She shared that throughout their marriage, Charlie often left her love notes asking, “How can I better serve you as a husband?”
“With sadness,” Erika added, “I was Charlie’s confidant.”
“My marriage with Charlie was the greatest blessing of my life, and I know he felt the same. He wanted everyone to know that kind of joy,” Erika said.
She shared that Charlie’s mission was to reach what he called “the lost boys of the West,” urging them to embrace marriage and family.
“When he spoke to young people, he loved to share God’s vision for marriage,” she added. “If they only dared to live it out, it could enrich every part of their lives, just as it enriched ours.”
As the new CEO of Turning Point USA, Erika entered State Farm Stadium to a standing ovation and cries of “we love you.”
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.
“Many people have come to me and asked, ‘Do you feel anger toward him? Do you want to pursue the death penalty?’” Erika said. “My honest answer was to tell our lawyer that I believe this is a decision for the government to make.”
She explained that she wanted no part in the decision, fearing it could bring her guilt and conflict with her Christian faith.
“I do not want that man’s blood on my ledger,” Erika said. “When I stand before Jesus and He asks, ‘Eye for an eye? Is that how we do it?’—I don’t want that to keep me from heaven, from being with Charlie.”
Speaking publicly for the first time since her emotional remarks just two days after her husband’s death, Erika recalled the exact moment she learned he had been shot.
Erika explained that she had intended to travel with Charlie from Arizona to Utah that day, but stayed behind to care for her mother, who was receiving medical treatment.
After her remarks, President Donald Trump took the stage and shared that one of Charlie’s final requests to him was to “save Chicago.”
“The gun was pointed at him, but the bullet was aimed at every one of us,” Trump told the crowd.
“Charlie is bigger than two weeks ago—he’s eternal. We love him. And he’s looking down today saying, ‘That’s a great crowd.’”
Trump acknowledged one point of difference between them: how Charlie treated his opponents.
“He did not hate his opponents,” Trump said. “He wanted the best for them. That’s where I disagreed—I hate my opponents, and I don’t want the best for them.”
He ended his remarks by inviting Erika Kirk onto the stage, where he embraced her as the audience rose to their feet.
Earlier, the crowd was stunned when Trump reunited with Elon Musk, months after their bitter public feud. Musk was seen shaking Trump’s hand in a private box, alongside UFC CEO Dana White. According to lip reader Nicola Hickling, Trump told Musk he was glad to see him and hoped they could reconcile.
