Is Charlie Kirk's funeral going to be televised? What really happened at the memorial

Is Charlie Kirk's funeral going to be televised? What really happened at the memorial

The internet has been swirling with a mix of genuine grief and massive confusion lately. If you've been scrolling through social media, you might have seen some pretty wild rumors or outdated posts asking is Charlie Kirk's funeral going to be televised—especially after the shocking events that took place in late 2025.

To give it to you straight: Charlie Kirk's public memorial service already happened, and it was a massive, televised spectacle.

Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a titan of the MAGA movement, was assassinated on September 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University. It was a moment that basically froze the political world for a second. Because he was such a polarizing and prominent figure, the question of how he would be laid to rest became a national fixation.

The Arizona Stadium "Revival"

On September 21, 2025, a massive memorial service was held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Honestly, calling it a "funeral" doesn't quite capture the vibe. It felt more like a cross between a high-energy political rally and an old-school evangelical revival.

If you missed the live broadcast, here is the deal: the event was indeed televised and live-streamed across almost every major conservative outlet. Newsmax, Real America’s Voice, and various YouTube channels like Times Now and TPUSA’s own platforms carried the whole thing. It wasn't just a small, somber gathering. We’re talking about an event that drew over 90,000 people to the stadium, with some reports suggesting even more tried to squeeze in.

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Who showed up?

The guest list was essentially a "who's who" of the Republican party and the MAGA ecosystem.

  • Donald Trump was the final speaker, delivering a eulogy that characterized Kirk as a martyr for freedom.
  • JD Vance was there, having actually accompanied Kirk’s casket on Air Force Two from Utah to Phoenix.
  • Tucker Carlson, Elon Musk, and Tulsi Gabbard were all spotted in the crowd or on the stage.
  • Erika Kirk, Charlie's widow, gave a powerful speech where she publicly forgave the man accused of the shooting.

The production value was through the roof. There were even pyrotechnics—literally sparklers and "cold fire" effects on stage—which sparked a bit of a debate online. Some people thought it was a bit much for a memorial, but Andrew Kolvet, the executive producer of The Charlie Kirk Show, defended the choice. He basically said that Charlie loved those effects and they wanted to celebrate his life with joy rather than just sinking into the darkness of the tragedy.

Why people are still asking about the broadcast

It’s weirdly common for these "is it televised" searches to spike months after the fact. Usually, it's because clips of the speeches—especially Trump’s eulogy or Erika Kirk’s forgiveness—go viral on TikTok or Instagram. People see the professional camera angles and the stadium lighting and assume the event is either happening now or is an upcoming "official" state funeral.

There have also been local vigils and smaller services that weren't necessarily "televised" in the traditional sense, though most were filmed on cell phones. For instance, right after the shooting, a vigil in Scottsdale drew a few hundred people who clutched candles and flags. That was a lot more intimate and wasn't a "produced" TV event.

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The current state of things in 2026

Since the main memorial has passed, the conversation has shifted toward how Kirk is being remembered legally and physically. Just this month, in January 2026, Hood County in Texas renamed a stretch of road to the Charlie Kirk Memorial Parkway.

There’s also talk in Utah and Florida about similar naming honors. It’s clear that even though the funeral broadcast is over, the political impact of his death is still very much a live wire.

What to watch for now

If you are looking for footage of the service today, you won’t find it on a "live" TV schedule. Instead, you have to look for archives.

  1. TPUSA’s YouTube Channel: They have the full, multi-hour stream archived.
  2. Rumble: Most of the unedited speeches from Trump and Vance are hosted here.
  3. Documentaries: There are already whispers in the industry about a feature-length documentary covering Kirk’s life and the aftermath of the Utah shooting, which would likely use the televised funeral footage as a centerpiece.

Clearing up the "Assassination" confusion

It's important to be clear about the facts here because the internet is a mess. Kirk was killed by a single shot while speaking at an outdoor bowl quad at Utah Valley University. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was arrested and is currently facing trial.

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Because the event was so public—about 3,000 students were there—the footage of the actual incident (not the funeral) was floating around the darker corners of the web for a while. This led to a lot of "is it real?" questions that eventually fed into the search for the funeral broadcast.

Actionable insights for followers

If you're trying to keep up with the legacy of Turning Point USA or the ongoing tributes to Kirk, here is what you should actually do:

  • Verify the date: If you see a "Live" tag on a Charlie Kirk memorial video in 2026, check the upload date. It is almost certainly a re-broadcast or a "premiere" of old footage.
  • Follow the trial: The televised funeral was the emotional peak, but the legal resolution for Tyler Robinson is the next major news beat to watch.
  • Check local legislation: If you live in Texas or Utah, keep an eye on local council meetings. The renaming of streets and parks after Kirk is becoming a major point of contention between supporters and critics.
  • Look for the Medal of Freedom details: Trump posthumously awarded Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom in late 2025. This ceremony was also filmed and often gets confused with funeral footage.

The "televised" era of Charlie Kirk’s life may have ended with that Glendale stadium service, but the digital footprint of that day is going to be around for a long time. It served as a massive "proof of concept" for how the modern right-wing movement handles its most high-profile losses—turning a moment of grief into a national broadcast event.