President Trump set to attend Charlie Kirk’s funeral in Arizona

PHOENIX — President Donald Trump said he will travel to Arizona to attend the funeral of prominent conservative political analyst Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in Utah earlier this week.

Official details of the funeral have yet to be announced, but the president told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House on Thursday he had heard the funeral would take place next weekend in Arizona.

“They’ve asked me to go and I think I have an obligation to do it,” Trump said.

Kirk was shot dead during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

A manhunt for the shooter ended early on Friday when 22-year-old suspect Tyler Robinson turned himself in to police at the urging of his father.

Who is Charlie Kirk?

Kirk was one of the founders of Turning Point USA, a non-profit headquartered in Arizona political action group in Arizona.

The organization was known for advocating conservative ideology on high school, college and university campuses across the country.

Oftentimes, Kirk would engage in debate with attendees on topics like gun violence, gender and crime, producing many viral clips on social media.

He is credited with galvanizing the youth vote and helping Trump win the U.S. Presidential Elections in 2016 and 2024.

After Trump was sworn in to the presidency for a second time in 2025, Kirk was instrumental in helping Trump select members of his cabinet and other roles in the administration.

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