President Donald Trump confirmed he will travel to Arizona to attend the funeral of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose assassination at a Utah Valley University event this week has sent shockwaves through political circles nationwide.
Speaking to reporters Thursday on the White House lawn, Trump said he had been told services would take place next weekend in Arizona, though official details have not yet been released. “They’ve asked me to go and I think I have an obligation to do it,” Trump said.
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed Wednesday during a Turning Point USA event in Orem, Utah. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, surrendered to authorities Friday morning after a manhunt that stretched across two days and drew national attention.
Kirk was best known as the founder of Turning Point USA, an Arizona-based nonprofit that became a powerful force in mobilizing young conservative voters. Through campus events and social media debates on issues such as gun rights and gender identity, he became one of the most recognizable figures in conservative politics.
Trump credited Kirk with playing a pivotal role in both his 2016 and 2024 presidential victories, and more recently in staffing his second administration. Vice President JD Vance, who accompanied Kirk’s casket on Air Force Two back to Arizona, called him a friend and key ally.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.
