Charlie Kirk memorial updates: 'I forgive him,' widow Erika Kirk says of alleged shooter

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat whose residence was set on fire earlier this year while he and his family were asleep inside, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday that the nation is at an "inflection point."

"I hope we go the direction of healing, of bringing people together, of trying to find our commonalities, not just focus on our differences," Shapiro said on the morning of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's memorial service.

The governor said that after the arson attack on his residence in April, he saw his people of all backgrounds in his state come together.

"I want to see that in America now in the wake of the killing of Charlie Kirk, on the heels of the killing of Speaker Hortman and her husband, and just too much political violence," Shapiro said, referring to the June murder of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband in their home. "We've got to find our better angels. We've got to universally condemn political violence no matter where it is. Whether it's against Charlie Kirk or someone else, it is not okay. We all have to work together to condemn it."

When asked about Kirk's legacy, Shapiro said the 31-year-old activist was someone "devoted to speech and debate."

"I appreciate the fact that he showed up in town squares and college campuses and sought to debate others, whether I agree with it or not. The answer to debate and speech that you don't like is not violence or taking someone's life. It's more speech. It's more debate. It's more engagement. And that's what we need more of in our communities," the governor said.

Turning Point, the group Kirk founded to mobilize young Christian conservatives, became a multimillion-dollar operation under his leadership with enormous reach.

The crowd expected to fill the stadium in Glendale for Kirk's memorial is a testament to the massive influence he accumulated in conservative America with his ability to mobilize young people.

"I think he spoke on more than just politics," said Michael Link, 29, who stopped outside the stadium to take in the scene. "Now that he's gone, it's like who's gonna speak for us now?"

His impact on modern-day conservatism went beyond U.S. shores.

Kirk "was very effective because he was convinced of his views and knew how to argue them," Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said at a political rally Sunday in Rome. "But he never stopped smiling, never stopped respecting his interlocutor and anyone who challenged him."

Kirk was a provocateur who at times made statements that some called racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant and transphobic. That has drawn backlash from conservatives who view the criticism as cherry-picking a few select moments to insult the legacy they see of an inspirational conservative leader.

Kirk was a MAGA celebrity with a loyal following that turned out to support or argue with him as he traveled the country for the events like the one at Utah Valley University, where he was shot. Kirk grew the organization, in large part, through the force of his personality and debating chops.

Arizona is the adopted home state of Kirk, who grew up outside Chicago and founded Turning Point there before moving the organization to Phoenix. Vance has said Kirk's advocacy was a big reason Trump picked him to serve as vice president.

Scheduled speakers at the service include Trump, Vance, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Donald Trump Jr., right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson and White House aides Stephen Miller and Sergio Gor also are set to speak.

Also speaking will be Kirk's widow, who has been named Turning Point's new leader and has pledged that "the movement my husband built will not die."

Local officials said they wouldn't be surprised if more than 100,000 people gather for Charlie Kirk's memorial service.

Other high-profile figures who are scheduled to deliver remarks include Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.

Attendees have been asked to wear red, white or blue to the service.

Read more here.

Ahead of traveling to Arizona for Charlie Kirk's memorial, President Donald Trump praised him Sunday morning before boarding Marine One.

"We can celebrate the lives of a great man today, really a great man. He's a young man but a great man," Trump said. "And we look forward to it. It really is. We want to look at it as a time of healing, a time of whatever, that something like this could have happened is not even believable."

Asked what he's going to say to Kirk's wife and family, Trump said he's going to provide them comfort.

"Well, I'm going to just give them my love. There's nothing like you can say. You talk about the great things he's done. I mean, he's been amazing. He's had a tremendous influence for a young man that was, did a great job. He did a tremendous job, and he had a hold on youth because they loved him. They respected him," Trump said.