US President Donald Trump hailed the conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a great American hero and martyr during a speech to tens of thousands of mourners at a memorial service in Arizona.
Trump was the headline speaker at the packed event on Sunday, which saw top officials from his administration, including Vice-President JD Vance, praise Kirk's political legacy after he was shot dead on 10 September.
He was assassinated because he lived bravely, he lived boldly and he argued brilliantly, Trump told the crowd at the State Farm Stadium near Phoenix.
Kirk's wife, Erika, also delivered a tearful speech in which she said she had forgiven her husband's alleged killer.
My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life, she said, adding: I forgive him because it is what Christ did. The answer to hate is not hate.
Tens of thousands of people queued for hours outside the stadium before the event, with some even camping out the night before to secure their spot. Many wore Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats, other Trump-branded items and red, white and blue outfits.
Inside the stadium, the mood and atmosphere resembled a raucous political rally with music beforehand from Christian bands who prompted standing singalongs from the crowd of almost 100,000.
The list of speakers included members of Kirk's organisation, Turning Point USA, which focuses on conservative activism on college campuses.
They stressed the need to continue the 31-year-old's activism and emphasised his deep faith throughout the five-hour service. Kirk, who was debating students at a university in Utah when he was shot dead from a nearby rooftop, was repeatedly described as a martyr.
Other speakers emphasized that Kirk's death would reinvigorate the conservative movement in America.
During the deeply partisan event, the divisions in American society were palpable, with many viewing Kirk's death as a reflection of the political violence they blame on the left.
As Kirk's wife expressed her grief and her commitment to continue his legacy, she stated: These past 10 days after Charlie's assassination, we didn't see violence... Instead, we saw revival.
Trump's speech included both praise for Kirk and political rhetoric, as he called Kirk a martyr for freedom and criticized the opposition.
The memorial highlighted the ongoing conversation about political divisions in the U.S. and the future of the conservative movement, which Kirk significantly influenced.
