<\/b>Moment Trump and Musk reunite at Charlie Kirk memorial \u2013 Watch on TVNZ+<\/b><\/a><\/b><\/b><\/p>\n US President Donald Trump speaks at a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk. (Source: Associated Press)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Speakers highlighted Kirk\u2019s profound faith and his strong belief that young conservatives need to get married, build families and pass on their values to keep building their movement. They also repeatedly told conservative activists, sometimes in confrontational tones, that the best way to honour Kirk was doubling down on his mission to move American politics further to the right.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cFor Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America and defending the truth than it is to die on our knees,\u201d Vance said.<\/p>\n \u201cMy friends, for Charlie, we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America. And he is a martyr for the Christian faith.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The 31-year-old right-wing provocateur was assassinated in Utah on September 10. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Speakers highlighted Kirk\u2019s profound faith and his strong belief that young conservatives need to get married, build families and pass on their values to keep building their movement. They also repeatedly told conservative activists, sometimes in confrontational tones, that the best way to honour Kirk was doubling down on his mission to move American politics further to the right.<\/p>\n Kirk\u2019s\u00a0assassination at a September 10 appearance<\/a>\u00a0on a Utah college campus has become a singular moment for the modern-day conservative movement. It also has set off a fierce debate about violence, decency and free speech in an era of deep political division.<\/p>\n The shooting has stirred fear among some Americans that Trump is trying to harness outrage over the killing as justification to\u00a0suppress the voices of his critics and political opponents<\/a>.<\/p>\n A photograph of conservative activist Charlie Kirk is seen on a large screen during a memorial at State Farm Stadium in Glenfield, Arizona. (Source: Associated Press)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Those close to Kirk prayed and the floors shook from the bass of Christian rock bands as the home of the NFL\u2019s Arizona Cardinals took on the feel of a megachurch service.<\/p>\n \u201cCharlie looked at politics as an on-ramp to Jesus,\u201d said the Reverend Rob McCoy, Kirk\u2019s pastor.<\/p>\n People began lining up before dawn to secure a spot inside State Farm Stadium west of Phoenix, where Kirk\u2019s Turning Point organisation is based. Security was tight, similar to the Super Bowl or other high-profile event. The speakers delivered their tributes from behind bullet-proof glass.<\/p>\n The 63,400-seat stadium quickly filled with people dressed in red, white and blue, as organisers suggested.<\/p>\n Kirk\u2019s widow, Erika, in her own address said in the midst of her grief she was finding comfort that her husband left this world without regrets. She also said she forgives the man who is charged with killing him.<\/p>\n \u201cMy husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,\u201d said\u00a0Erika Kirk<\/a>, who is taking over as Turning Point\u2019s leader. She added, \u201cI forgive him\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Erika Kirk wipes tears as she speaks at a memorial for her husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk (Source: Associated Press)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Trump has blamed the \u201cradical left\u201d for Kirk\u2019s death and threatened to go after liberal organisations and donors or others who he feels are maligning or celebrating Kirk\u2019s death.<\/p>\n Dozens of people, from journalists to teachers to late show host\u00a0Jimmy Kimmel<\/a>, have faced suspensions or lost their jobs as prominent conservative activists and administration officials target comments about Kirk that they deem offensive or celebratory. The retaliation has in turn ignited a debate over the First Amendment as the Republican administration promises retribution against those who air what are seen as disparaging remarks in the wake of Kirk\u2019s death.<\/p>\n Some speakers at the memorial said Kirk was battling evil and referred often to a vague \u201cthey\u201d as the enemy. Others were blunt.<\/p>\n \u201cCharlie joined a long line of courageous men and women who were martyred for what they believe,\u201d said Donald Trump Jr, the president\u2019s son who had close relationship with Kirk.<\/p>\n \u201cCharlie was my brother. Charlie was my commanding officer,\u201d added Jack Posobiec, a far-right influencer, in his tribute.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we will never, ever let the left, the media or the Democrats forget the name of Charlie Kirk.\u201d<\/p>\n Kirk was a provocateur who at times made statements that some called racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant and transphobic. That has drawn backlash from conservatives who view the criticism as cherry-picking a few select moments to insult the legacy of someone they see as an inspirational conservative leader.<\/p>\n A 22-year-old Utah man, Tyler Robinson, has been\u00a0charged with killing Kirk<\/a>\u00a0and faces the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges. Authorities have not revealed a clear motive in the shooting, but prosecutors say Robinson\u00a0wrote in a text to his partner<\/a>\u00a0following the shooting that he \u201chad enough\u201d of Kirk\u2019s hatred.<\/p>\n Vice President JD Vance speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk (Source: Associated Press)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/p>\n Turning Point, the group Kirk founded to mobilise young Christian conservatives, became a multimillion-dollar operation under his leadership with enormous reach.<\/p>\n \u201cCharlie\u2019s having some serious heavenly FOMO right now,\u201d Tyler Bower, Turning Point\u2019s chief operating officer, said, likening the moment to bringing \u201cthe Holy Spirit into a Trump rally\u201d.<\/p>\n The crowd was a testament to the massive influence he accumulated in conservative America with his ability to mobilise young people.<\/p>\n His impact on modern-day conservatism went beyond US shores.<\/p>\n Kirk \u201cwas very effective because he was convinced of his views and knew how to argue them,\u201d Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said at a political rally Sunday in Rome.<\/p>\n Kirk was a MAGA celebrity with a loyal following that turned out to support or argue with him as he traveled the country for the events like the one at Utah Valley University, where he was shot. Kirk grew the organisation, in large part, through the force of his personality and debating chops.<\/p>\n \u201cHe slayed ignorance,\u201d said Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. \u201cHe cut through lies. He woke people\u2019s minds, inspired people\u2019s hearts and imparted wisdom every day.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaker after speaker, including Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressed their awe at Kirk\u2019s ability to go into what many conservatives saw as the lion\u2019s den to make the conservative case: college campuses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" US President Donald Trump praised Charlie Kirk as a \u201cgreat American hero\u201d and \u201cmartyr\u201d for freedom as he and other prominent conservatives gathered to honour the slain conservative political activist whose work they say...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"US](\"https:\/\/tvnz-1-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com\/resizer\/v2\/us-president-donald-trump-speaks-at-a-memorial-for-conservat-GEHEY5Y7CNHZJB5SW3OL2XWPNI.jpg?auth=2ef1251d612314ced8f8b2cc421926e66f7628a5e830b8892e9ff9c67189edfb&quality=70&width=800&height=449&focal=1145%2C686\")
<\/picture><\/div>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/tvnz-1-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com\/resizer\/v2\/a-photograph-of-conservative-activist-charlie-kirk-is-seen-o-K2CATJR3SRFFPEZ7HNGC6UG7FY.jpg?auth=bbb5d6e346226ff587b390e368a69f9f159c69b77cc304f3e360781f9959ac2a&quality=70&width=800&height=450&focal=5609%2C1666\")
<\/picture><\/div>\nHigh security and a full stadium<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
<\/picture><\/div>Comments about Kirk have become a Trump administration target<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
![\"Erika](\"https:\/\/tvnz-1-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com\/resizer\/v2\/erika-kirk-wipes-tears-as-she-speaks-at-a-memorial-for-her-h-YNBLFNUUUNAOBLNX65LL7X33CA.jpg?auth=e2004abb54cb972439178013e06603ccc57aa566fbb8ee16590f1d95370f0daa&quality=70&width=800&height=535&focal=485%2C348\")
<\/picture><\/div>![\"Vice](\"https:\/\/tvnz-1-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com\/resizer\/v2\/vice-president-jd-vance-speaks-at-a-memorial-for-charlie-kir-JBKMORPISZB63A7HBOE3VYOEHY.jpg?auth=362a79540c7b1688cf9661e45912de7ae67bfd8878c5c029c99a703f3c98e92e&quality=70&width=800&height=590&focal=512%2C378\")
<\/picture><\/div>Kirk\u2019s legacy of conservative political influence<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n