The late conservative commentator Charlie Kirk is set to be honored Sunday in a highly anticipated memorial service in Arizona.
A gunman shot and killed Kirk at a Utah university on Sept. 10. Kirk’s death stunned the political world and catapulted a new conversation about political violence back into the mainstream.
His memorial will be attended by top political power players who want to see the 31-year-old Kirk laid to rest. Many people are also expected to watch in-person, on streaming, or on cable.
Here’s what to expect.
What will the memorial service look like?
With thousands of observers expected, the Department of Homeland Security has elevated the security level to a Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1 event, similar security to a Super Bowl game.
The Secret Service, federal, state, and local law enforcement will all provide support to secure the event. A perimeter is expected to be set up around the stadium on Saturday. Law enforcement at the event will be on guard for any threats, though it is unclear if there are any credible threats.
An armed man was detained on Friday on stadium grounds and was later booked on a felony charge of impersonating a peace officer and a misdemeanor charge of carrying a weapon into a prohibited place.
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When the memorial starts Sunday, the headline speakers are set to be President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, along with widow Erica Kirk, who recently became the new leader of Turning Point USA.
Several cabinet members like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are expected to speak. There will also be performances from Lee Greenwood and Steve Amerson.
The program is named: “Building A Legacy: Remembering Charlie Kirk.”
Who will attend the service?
The capacity of the Arizona Cardinals’ stadium more than 60,000 people and attendance is first-come, first-serve. Overflow attendees will be directed to the nearby Desert Diamond Arena.
Notable attendees include Erica Kirk, Trump, Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Rubio, Kennedy, Hegseth, Donald Trump Jr., White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Tucker Carlson, Stephen Miller, and Sergio Gor, among others.
Several Christian musicians like Brandon Lake, Chris Tomlin, Phil Wickham, Kari Jobe Carnes and Cody Carnes are all scheduled to appear.
Where is the service?
The memorial service will take place at the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals stadium, State Farm Stadium, in Glendale, Arizona. Glendale is part of the larger Phoenix area and is northwest of the city.
Desert Diamond Arena, the site where overflow attendees will go, is next to State Farm Stadium.
Turning Point USA is based in Phoenix, and Charlie Kirk lived in the area.
When is the memorial?
Doors will open to the memorial at 11 a.m. ET, 8 a.m. local time, and the program will start at 2 p.m. ET, or 11 a.m. local time.
It’s unclear how long the memorial will be, but it could last several hours.
How to watch the memorial
Several top news networks including Fox News, ABC, and MSNBC along with others will have programming covering the service.
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PBS Newshour will also have a YouTube stream of the service. Charlie Kirk’s Rumble account will stream the memorial as well.
Numerous news outlets will be on hand to record the outcome and happenings at the memorial.