Glendale, Arizona, is preparing to bid farewell to Charlie Kirk. President Trump, among others, will deliver a speech.

Thousands of people will gather in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday for a memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which is intended to highlight his "indelible impact on American politics," CNN announced on Saturday. US President Donald Trump is expected to be one of the speakers.

Kirk, 31, was shot in front of a large crowd on September 10 while giving a speech at Utah Valley University. He died after being taken to the hospital.

A memorial service, organized by Turning Point USA, an organization founded by Kirk, will be held at the stadium. Conservative pundits and government officials will pay tribute, the website reported. President Trump announced on Thursday that he will attend the service to "honor Charlie and all that he did." He added that Kirk was a "wonderful person" and that he believed he could one day be president.

Vice President J.D. Vance and his widow, Erika Kirk, will also be in attendance. Following her husband's assassination, she announced she would continue his work, including his podcast and campus outreach. "The movement my husband built will not die," she declared. Turning Point USA announced that his widow has taken over as the organization's CEO.

Other speakers scheduled to appear include White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, the President's son Donald Trump Jr., and former Fox News host and conservative commentator Tucker Carlson are also expected to deliver remarks.

It's unclear how many people will attend the ceremony. The stadium can hold at least 63,000 people. "I bet it'll be pretty full, maybe completely full," Trump said.

In-person attendance requires registration through Turning Point USA.

CNN noted that the ceremony will pose significant security challenges for attendees. It will be a particular test for the Secret Service, which is tasked with coordinating security for the event in an era of rising political violence, he emphasized. The ceremony has been classified as requiring special security at SEAR-1. "This allows federal authorities to deploy the full range of law enforcement and security resources necessary to support local officials," a service official told CNN.

The website noted that U.S. security agencies have no information indicating a verified, credible threat. However, the agency's assessment suggests that extremists "may perceive the memorial service or related events as attractive targets due to the presence of senior U.S. government officials, local officials, and political activists, as well as the significant international media attention."

Turning Point USA has indicated that attendees should expect to be screened, which may result in longer wait times for entry.

Asked about the Glendale Police Department's preparations, police spokesman Moroni Mendez noted that the city has hosted numerous large events in recent years, gaining experience in handling the influx of visitors. "A lot of important people will be here. Yesterday we met with the Secret Service to discuss how we plan for this event," Mendez said. He warned of changes to traffic patterns. "We will have all units available. It will be a busy day for everyone," he said. (PAP)

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