Conservative activist Charlie Kirk will have a memorial service that combines mourning with politics, requiring significant security measures due to the high-profile attendance of presidential line of succession members. Five hundred to 800 Secret Service officers have been deployed to the Phoenix area for the event, which has received the highest security designation from the Department of Homeland Security.
The memorial features a speaker lineup including prominent conservatives and politicians, such as Turning Point USA’s Steve Bannon, Senator Marco Rubio, and Donald Trump Jr. The event will also include voter-registration drives, donations requests, and music reminiscent of Trump rallies. Due to threats against the stadium, security has been ramped up, with agents from protective details, local law enforcement, and federal agencies involved.
The high-profile nature of the memorial service reflects the challenges of balancing mourning with politics in a polarized society. The event is being closely watched by intelligence experts, who will monitor online activity for threats and potential unrest. With many politicians skipping the event due to concerns over security, only a select few will attend the highly anticipated memorial.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/09/21/kirk-memorial-speakers-security-schedule