State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, is set to host a memorial service on September 21, 2025, for Charlie Kirk, the slain CEO of Turning Point USA and a leading figure in the conservative movement. The event, expected to draw tens of thousands and broadcast nationwide, comes just eleven days after Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at a university in Utah—a public assassination that has sent shockwaves through American politics and triggered a torrent of misinformation, security concerns, and infighting among supporters of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.
According to an unclassified threat assessment obtained by the Arizona Mirror from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), authorities are tracking threats of “unknown credibility” toward Kirk’s family, President Donald Trump, and Vice-President J.D. Vance, all of whom are expected to attend the Glendale memorial. The report, prepared by DHS’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis with input from the FBI, ATF, Secret Service, Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center, and ICE, emphasizes that no threats have been deemed credible at this time. Still, the sheer scale and visibility of the event have prompted a massive, multi-agency security operation.
“Violent extremists and unaffiliated lone offenders may view the memorial service or related events as attractive attack targets due to the attendance of these individuals, other senior US government officials, state and local government officials, and political activists, and due to major international media attention,” the assessment warns, as cited by the Arizona Mirror. The stadium, which can accommodate upwards of 73,000 people, will be under tight surveillance, with temporary flight restrictions on drones and other aircraft. This heightened posture follows recent thwarted drone plots targeting infrastructure and public events, underscoring the evolving nature of security threats at high-profile gatherings.
The DHS report also references a troubling pattern of politically motivated threats and attacks in Arizona and beyond. It recalls the case of a Colorado man who pleaded guilty to threatening then-Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (now governor), as well as similar threats against Maricopa County officials and a Phoenix man who attacked the Arizona Democratic Party’s field office in Tempe. In all instances, perpetrators were driven by unfounded right-wing claims of widespread voter fraud. The assessment further highlights concerns about foreign terrorist groups, noting recent pro-ISIS propaganda encouraging attacks in the United States and citing the deadly New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans as a grim reminder of the ongoing risk.
The ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict is another factor raising the risk profile of large public events, with law enforcement remaining alert to the possibility of retaliatory attacks linked to U.S. support for Israel. The DHS assessment mentions a June firebomb attack on a march supporting Israeli hostages, in which 15 people were injured, as evidence that such threats remain all too real.
Amid these security concerns, the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination has exposed deep divisions within the MAGA movement he helped build. According to CBC, Kirk’s death has set off a wave of speculation and infighting among prominent conservative commentators and influencers. Candace Owens, a high-profile MAGA podcaster, lashed out on social media against anyone attempting to fill Kirk’s leadership role, declaring, “You put a shill in Charlie Kirk’s chair, in Charlie Kirk’s company, and you try to tell us to follow that individual, I will be an enemy of you. There will be nothing that can stop me.”
Owens, known for her conspiracy theories and increasingly extreme rhetoric—including antisemitic claims and allegations that the Israeli government was involved in Kirk’s death—had reportedly been distanced by Kirk himself in recent months. Her comments, though not naming names, sparked speculation that she was targeting conservative figures such as Ben Shapiro and billionaire Bill Ackman, both vocal supporters of Trump and Israel. This public feud reflects broader fractures within the MAGA coalition, with disagreements over issues like U.S. policy toward Israel and the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case fueling internal strife.
Matthew Dallek, a professor at George Washington University who studies conservative politics, told CBC that “extremist movements, including the MAGA movement, have a tendency to grow more radical over time and as well, I think, to fracture.” The 2024 election saw Trump assemble his largest and most diverse coalition yet, winning the popular vote and attracting more young people, Latinos, African Americans, and tech billionaires than ever before. Yet, as Dallek observed, this coalition is now “larger and yet more unwieldy and fractured than ever.”
Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded to mobilize young Christian conservatives, is expected to continue—and possibly expand—its influence in the wake of his death. The group’s spokesperson told the Associated Press that Kirk’s podcast and social media accounts have seen a surge in followers, and interest in expanding Turning Point’s reach on campuses is at an all-time high. On September 18, the Turning Point board unanimously elected Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, as the new CEO and board chair, signaling a commitment to continuity and growth despite the tragedy. “It’s not going to destroy the organization by any stretch. And that it’s probably likely to grow, at least in the short term, more visible, maybe more active and influential,” Dallek remarked.
Yet, Kirk’s absence has also created opportunities for fringe figures to vie for influence. White nationalist Nick Fuentes, a longtime adversary of Kirk, may see the moment as a chance to push his vision further into the MAGA mainstream, though no evidence has surfaced linking the suspected shooter, Tyler Robinson, to Fuentes’s followers, known as “groypers.” Saif Shahin, a digital culture researcher at Tilburg University, noted, “I don’t think there is a [power] vacuum as such. But yes, his killing has, I would say, created an opportunity for some of these other figures to maybe expand their influence.”
The investigation into Kirk’s murder has itself become a lightning rod for conspiracy theories and misinformation. As reported by CNN, false claims have circulated widely on social media, ranging from assertions that Robinson was a Trump donor or Republican (both disproven) to doctored photos purporting to show him wearing political shirts. Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, stated on NBC, “his ideology was very different from his family,” clarifying that Robinson had become “more pro-gay and trans-rights oriented.” Prosecutors said Robinson accused Kirk of “spreading hate” before the killing, and all available evidence suggests he acted alone.
Despite this, some Trump administration officials, including White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and Vice President J.D. Vance, have suggested—without evidence—that broader networks or organized campaigns were behind the assassination. Cox, however, was unequivocal in a Fox News interview: “Every piece of evidence we have so far makes it very clear that the assassin acted alone.” The swirl of speculation has even extended to baseless allegations about Israeli involvement, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling such claims “insane,” “false,” and “outrageous.”
As Glendale braces for the high-stakes memorial, the legacy of Charlie Kirk—and the future of the movement he helped shape—remain uncertain. What’s clear is that his death has not only heightened security concerns but also laid bare the complex, often contentious dynamics within one of America’s most influential political coalitions.
