Charlie Kirk is portrayed as a martyr during a farewell meeting full of stirring stories

At a sometimes surreal gathering, a large number of leading figures from the Trump administration and the American conservative right bid farewell to Christian activist Charlie Kirk on Sunday. In a stadium near Phoenix, politics and religion intermingled at the gathering, where Kirk's status as a martyr of faith and the US was cemented by the second.

The atmosphere was unintentionally summed up best at the beginning by a remark Kirk's colleague and friend Tyler Bowyer made in his speech. "Charlie always said, 'How can we get the Holy Spirit into a Trump rally?'"

More than 60,000 people (including Elon Musk) attended the rally, which came a week and a half after Kirk was murdered at the age of 31 during an event at a university in Utah. The staunch Christian Kirk, known for his provocative and sometimes discriminatory remarks, lived in Phoenix, Arizona. The city was the headquarters of his foundation, Turning Point USA.

Early in the meeting, the tone was set by Christian opinion leader Benny Johnson, a close friend of Kirk's. He compared him to Stephen, the first martyr of Christianity. "After his death, Christianity spread enormously," Johnson said. "God is doing the same thing with Kirk now, for the same reason." He continued with a similar line to the Trump administration, which he believes was sent by God to destroy evil. "Swing the sword against the terror of evil in our land," he instructed the ministers present, as the audience cheered.

The idea that Kirk, with his death, played a significant role in a spiritual war against evil was a recurring theme – as were comparisons to religious figures. Jack Posobiec, a renowned conspiracy theorist and alt-right activist, said that Kirk's "sacrifice" would be seen in the future as a moment when "Western civilization" definitively began to triumph over evil forces. Posobiec, in turn, compared Kirk to Moses, who led his people to the promised land but was not allowed to enter himself. Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News host, then drew a parallel between Kirk and none other than Jesus: both were murdered for their Christian faith.

However bombastic, the language these men used wasn't necessarily surprising. It was more so with the Trump administration officials. One after another, they delivered almost gospel-like speeches. Pete Hegseth, now Secretary of War, spoke of the blood of Jesus washing away sins. "Let your life revolve around Christ."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio practically shouted the story of Jesus' death and resurrection into the room, then went on to talk about redemption – all to the loud cheers of the crowd. Several cabinet members also called Kirk a martyr, including Vice President J.D. Vance.

Political-religious fusion

That evangelical America is strongly connected to Trump's MAGA movement is nothing new. But the political-religious fusion that took place on Sunday is rarely seen in the US.

The crowd enjoyed the rousing stories for hours. The audience frequently began chanting "USA! USA!" Many of those present arrived early: the roads around State Farm Stadium were already largely congested by 5:30 a.m., even though the event wasn't scheduled to begin until 11:00 a.m.

In the days leading up to the event, it became clear that a ticket – which was free to obtain – didn't guarantee admission. First-comer was supposed to be first in, but there likely wasn't enough room for everyone. Some people therefore camped out all night on camping chairs around the stadium.

Ultimately, some of the people who showed up wouldn't be allowed into the stadium. Those who did manage to get in had to go through a very strict Secret Service screening due to the high volume of visitors. Bags, for example, weren't allowed.

There were concerns about the event's security beforehand. Local authorities had limited time to prepare. Furthermore, a day before the rally, a man was arrested in the stadium with a gun. He reportedly didn't have permission to be there (later, uncertainty arose as to whether he actually had permission).

At 6:30 a.m., while waiting in line, former soldier Vicky tells me a friend of hers also texted asking if it was wise for her to go. She's from Palm Springs, California, and doesn't want her last name published. Still, she decided to go; it seemed too unique. She made the four-hour drive and got up at three this morning.

The emotional climax of the meeting comes around 3 p.m. In a tearful speech to a hushed stadium, widow Erika Kirk carefully builds to a passage about her husband's shooter. It was precisely these kinds of boys her husband wanted to "save," she says. When it becomes clear she's about to say she forgives him, people in the audience clapping their hands over their mouths.

Then—the meeting was already four hours in—President Trump had yet to speak. He began by talking about Kirk, but quickly moved on to autism, tariffs, and Jimmy Kimmel's canceled TV show. Hundreds of people began to leave the room. "We need to bring religion back to America," the president said. "We want God back." When Trump finished and embraced Erika Kirk on stage, empty chairs were visible everywhere.