Stephen Miller, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, has issued a stern warning to the US at Charlie Kirk's memorial.
Thousands have gathered at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, to pay their respects to Kirk, who was killed earlier this month.
Kirk was assassinated on September 10 while he attended an event at Utah Valley University as part of his Turning Point USA comeback tour. The 31-year-old controversial activist was fatally shot in the neck, and less than two days later, police reported that they had taken in a suspect and named Tyler Robinson, 22, who has since been charged with seven counts.
The charges include aggravated murder, two counts of obstruction of justice, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of witness tampering, and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.
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Many have taken to the stage to speak about Kirk at his memorial on Sunday (September 21), including some of his colleagues at Turning Point USA and Miller.
The deputy chief of staff said: "You thought you could kill Charlie Kirk, you have made him a martyr…
"You cannot defeat us, you cannot slow us, you cannot stop us, you cannot deter us
"You have no idea the dragon you have awakened."
As per Eric Daugherty on X (formerly Twitter), Miller added: "WE are the ones who build, who create, who lift up humanity. You thought you could KILL Charlie Kirk? YOU HAVE MADE HIM IMMORTAL!"
"They cannot imagine what they have awakened! They cannot conceive of the army they have arisen in all of us!"
He continued: "And now millions will carry on his legacy! And we will devote the rest of our lives to FINISHING the causes for which Charlie gave his last measure of devotion.
"We stand for what is good, virtuous and noble. And to those trying to incite violence against us? ... What do you have? You have nothing, you are nothing. You are wickedness, you are jealousy, you are hatred."
Miller was amongst a few other speakers from the White House, with fellow Chief of Staff Susan Wiles praising Kirk's political work, as she said (via the BBC): "For Charlie making America great again meant bringing young people to this movement and making sure they knew they belonged."
Meanwhile, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard also spoke about free speech, adding: "Charlie lived what our founders envisioned: freedom, the right to speak even when we disagree."
Turning Point USA, which Kirk founded, issued guidelines to those attending Kirk's memorial.
Those hoping to enter the stadium were asked to dress in ‘Sunday best’ attire in red, white, or blue, while organisers also enforced a strict protocol on bags in the venue.
Topics: Charlie Kirk, US News, Politics
Callum Jones