Almost two weeks have passed since the assassination of right wing political activist and Turning Point USA confounder Charlie Kirk, and yet thereโs been no let up in the media interest.
The 31-year-old was shot through the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10, much to the shock of his huge fan base. Kirk had amassed millions of followers through his years of public speaking and podcasting, and counted himself a staunch ally of President Donald Trump.
Kirkโs memorial took place this weekend just gone, featuring speeches from the likes of Trump, JD Vance, and Donald Trump Jr. Other notable figures including Elon Musk were in attendance.
โI know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie Kirk, and neither now will history,โ President Trump said.
Yet it was Kirkโs widow, Erika, who gave the most passionate speech. The grieving wife and mother-of-two solemnly took the stage amidst pyrotechnics and blaring music prior to insisting that she had forgiven the โyoung manโ who shot her husband dead.
Estimates from certain sources claim over 100,000 people attended the service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, nearly double the stadiumโs official capacity. Meanwhile, thousands more waited outside to pay their respects.
Erika Kirkโs speech to the gathered masses was resounding and memorable, yet there were those who chose to question its authenticity.
Many such detractors openly wondered why she had donned white for the occasion, as opposed to black. โOdd that she is not wearing black,โ one X user wrote.
Another wrote: โWhen my grandfather died young, my grandmother wore black for a year. Erika is out of pocket for not putting on mourning colours at these events.โ
โJesus. Step back for once,โ a third wrote. โSee it through reality lense. This was a performance. Literally, you call this a funeral memorial??? Wake up.โ
According to the officialย Fight for Charlieย memorial website, the funeralโs dress code requested โSunday Bestโ in the red, white, and blue that symbolized the American flag.
As a result, Erikaโs all-white ensemble has been interpreted as her way of honoring both her husband and the patriotic theme of the service.
What did you make of Charlie Kirkโs memorial service? Let us know in the comments.
