Live updates | Tone of Charlie Kirk funeral ranges from mournful tribute to fiery call to action

Charlie Kirk remembrance and obsequy underway in az

Trump honours Charlie Kirk as a 'great man' before flying to memorial

Charlie Kirk memorial and funeral underway in Arizona

Tens of thousands expected at Arizona stadium for Charlie Kirk memorial today

Charlie Kirk's public memorial expected to draw more than 100,000 in Phoenix

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Charlie Kirk as a bold debater who was open to disagreement. Rubio said that most people hide behind “walls” and only associate with people who agree with them.

But Kirk, he said, sought out to engage honestly, openly and peacefully with those he disagreed with.

“He did that more than anyone alive today,” Rubio said.

Kirk’s rise to fame was in part attributed to the social media clips generated by going out to university campuses and debating liberals and left-wing activists, including those who had a large reach on social media.

Right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson mostly set politics aside in his memorial speech. The former Fox News host received booming applause from the crowd, before speaking about the faith he shared with Charlie Kirk.

Carlson said that while Kirk was a political person, “he also knew that politics is not the final answer and can't answer the deepest questions.” He said Kirk believed the only real solution is worshipping Jesus and the only change that matters is repentance.

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller offered a fiery, angry political speech aimed directly at political enemies.

Miller said that the fire of Kirk supporters burns with a “righteous fury” that their enemies cannot comprehend.

He said they will prevail over the “forces of wickedness and evil” and that their enemies “can’t conceive the army that they have arisen.”

“You thought you could kill Charlie Kirk, you have made him immortal. And now millions will carry on his legacy.”

Memorial attendees watched a video montage of Charlie Kirk’s last moments as he arrived at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.

In the clip, a man holds up a sign saying Charlie Kirk will appear at 12 p.m. In the courtyard.

Students cheer “1-2-3, freedom!” Kirk can be heard commenting, “Wow, look at that!” as he is driven up to a large crowd.

Kirk takes photos with supporters. The crowd chants his name.

He takes his seat.

It’s a now-haunting scene of Kirk in his last moments before he is shot.

Memorial speakers so far have returned to a couple of key themes. Many have repeated that Kirk sacrificed himself for the greater good of the conservative cause, or, as alt-right activist Jack Posobiec said, western civilization itself.

The tone of the service has ranged from mournful tribute to fiery call to action. It’s part spiritual revival meeting, with many references to faith; part personal reflections on Kirk and his career; and part riling up the troops, imploring the audience to stand and fight against their political enemies.

U.S. President Donald Trump has arrived in the stadium. He can be seen behind glass waving and clapping. Trump was briefly shown on the stadium screen and the crowd went wild with cheers of U-S-A!

Following the shooting death of Charlie Kirk, Trump has blamed "radical left" groups for Kirk's death. Trump said his administration "will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it."

Overflow for the event has been directed to the nearby Desert Diamond Arena. A line of people could be seen winding through the parking lot on Sunday afternoon. An outdoor screen was set up with a livestream of the memorial service for people who aren’t in the building. Camping chairs have been abandoned outside.

Benny Johnson, a popular right-wing commentator and YouTuber, just gave a fiery speech calling for the Trump administration to carry out a "godly mission of wielding the sword against evil."

Johnson said the memorial wasn't a funeral, but a "revival."

He quoted the Romans section of the Bible, saying, "May we pray that our rulers — here rightfully instituted and given power by our God — wield the sword for the terror of evil men in our nation in Charlie's memory."

Johnson added that he wants to live in a country where "the evil are terrified," and encouraged people to "centre your life on Christ, fall in love, get married, have a million kids and live out your American dream" so that there could be "millions and millions and millions of Charlie Kirks and we can save our land."

Scores of reporters from all over the world have been escorted into the stadium after bag and equipment searches. Journalists from all sizes of newspapers, magazines and websites are seated at rows of desks in a press area on the floor just behind the VIP section.

The view of the stage in the press area is blocked, ironically, by dozens of TV cameras, located on a riser near the stage.

A motorcade for President Donald Trump has arrived at State Farm Stadium.

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