Charlie Kirk’s memorial drew more than 100,000 mourners in Arizona, making it one of the largest services in recent history. The 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder was assassinated earlier this month, and security for the event rivaled a presidential inauguration.
His wife, Erika Kirk, delivered the most emotional speech of the day. “The answer to hate is not hate. The answer is love,” she told the crowd, before forgiving her husband’s accused killer. At one point, she raised her hand in sign language to say “I love you” to her late husband.
Donald Trump followed with a 40-minute eulogy, calling Kirk “a martyr for America’s freedom” and sharing alleged final words: “Please, sir, save Chicago.” The audience erupted in cheers.
But what made headlines afterward was a hug between Trump and Erika. Clips went viral, with many viewers describing Trump’s expression as “creepy” and “unsettling.” One person admitted, “I was crawling out of my skin.” The moment has since divided audiences and sparked heated debate online.