At an at times surrealistic meeting, a large number of leaders of the Trump government and conservative-right America said goodbye to the Christian activist Charlie Kirk on Sunday. In a stadium near Phoenix, politics and religion joined the meeting where Kirk’s status was perpetuated as a martyr of the faith and the US with the second.
The atmosphere was unintentionally summarized at the beginning by a comment Kirks colleague and friend Tyler Bowyer made in his speech. “Charlie always said, How can we get the Holy Spirit in a Trump rally?”
More than 60,000 people (including Elon Musk) had come to the meeting, a week and a half after Kirk was murdered at the age of 31 during an event at a university in Utah. The very Christian Kirk, who was known for its provocative and sometimes discriminatory comments, lived in Phoenix, in the state of Arizona. The city was the head office of its Turning Point USA Foundation.
Early during the meeting the tone was set by the Christian opinion maker Benny Johnson, a good acquaintance of Kirk. He compared him with Stefanus, the first martyr of Christianity. “After his death, Christianity spread enormously,” said Johnson. “God does that now with Kirk, for the same reason.” He went on in line to the Trump government, which, according to him, was sent by God to destroy evil. “The sword wave against the terror of evil in our country,” he dedicated the ministers present, while the audience shouted.
The idea that Kirk plays an important role in a spiritual war against evil with his death came back frequently – just like comparisons with religious figures. Jack Posobiec, well-known conspiracy thinker and alt-right activist, said that Kirk’s “sacrifice” will be seen in the future as a moment when the “Western civilization” began to win definitively from evil forces. PosobieC, in turn, compared Kirk with Moses, who led his people to the promised land but was not allowed in it himself. Tucker Carlson, former Fox News presenter, then drew a parallel between Kirk and none other than Jesus: both were murdered because of their Christian faith.
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No matter how high, in fact, this language of these men was not necessarily surprising. That was more the case with the ministers of the Trump cabinet. All of them came with almost gospel-like speeches. Pete Hegseeth, nowadays Minister of War, spoke about the blood of Jesus that blares sins. “Let your life revolve around Christ.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs Marco Rubio almost shouted the story of death and the resurrection of Jesus into the room, and then continued about redemption – all to the great cheers of those present. Various cabinet members also called Kirk a martyr, including Vice President JD Vance.
Political-religious merger
That Evangelical America is strongly connected to Trumps Maga movement is nothing new in itself. But the political-religious merger that took place on Sunday has rarely been shown in the US.
The public enjoyed the uplifting stories for hours. The “USA! USA!” Room regularly started to channel. Many of those present were early: the roads around the State Farm Stadium were already silted up around half past five in the morning, while the event would only start at eleven o’clock.
In the days prior to the meeting it turned out that a ticket – which could be requested for free – did not give guaranteed access to the event. Those who arrived first would be allowed first, but there was probably no place for everyone. Some people therefore camped all night on camping seats around the stadium.
In the end, some of the people who showed up would not enter the stadium. Those who succeeded had to go through a very strict control of the Secret Service, because of all the high visitors. For example, bags were not allowed.
President Donald Trump with the widow of Charlie Kirk
Photo Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP
Minister Marco Rubio of Foreign Affairs
Photo John Locher / AP
The safety of the event was in advance. The local authorities only had a short time to prepare everything. A day before the meeting, a man was arrested with a gun in the stadium. He would not have permission to be there (later there was a lack of clarity about whether he might have had permission).
At half past six in the morning, in line, ex-soldier Vicky also appealed that a friend of her apple whether it was smart that she went. She comes from Palm Springs at California and does not want her last name in the newspaper. Yet she decided to go, it seemed too unique to her. She made the four -hour drive and got up this morning at three o’clock.
The emotional highlight of the meeting follows around three o’clock in the afternoon. In a tearing speech in a quiet stadium, widow Erika Kirk carefully builds up to a passage about her husband’s shooter. It is precisely this kind of boy to ‘save’ her husband, she says. If it becomes clear that she is going to say that she forgives him, people in the room people in front of their mouths.
After that – the meeting is already busy for four hours – President Trump has to speak. He starts talking about Kirk, but also soon talks about autism, import duties and the deleted TV show by Jimmy Kimmel. Hundreds of people are starting to leave the room. “We have to bring religion back to America,” says the president. “We want God back.” When Trump is ready and hugs Erika Kirk on stage, there are empty chairs everywhere.