Trump warns the left on eve of first anniversary of Kirk's death: 'We love you, Charlie'

DALLAS, TEXAS: President Donald Trump paid tribute to late conservative activist Charlie Kirk at the start of the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday, September 9, just one day before the one-year anniversary of Kirk’s death, and used the occasion to criticize the response from part of the left.

On September 10, 2025, Kirk was fatally shot while he was delivering opening remarks at a TPUSA debate event at Utah Valley University.

Trump lashes out at radical left for 'making excuses' and 'cheering' over Charlie Kirk's death

"So exactly one year ago tomorrow, a far-left extremist assassinated my great friend and conservative voice, Charlie Kirk, because Charlie Kirk spoke the truth," Trump told the crowd. “What shocked millions of Americans was not only the fact that Charlie was murdered, as bad as it was, but also how many people made an excuse for it or cheered for it.”

“They were cheering some people, sick people. For a brief moment, the mask came off the radical left, and you saw what they were really all... all about,” the 80-year-old added.

"And now, those same people are trying to get power over you in this election, and they are all voting Democrat, okay? They're all voting, every one of them, and you can't let it happen," Trump said. 

He closed the message with a direct appeal to the crowd: "We will not let them win. And in Charlie's honor, I just want to say we love you, Charlie."

Erika Kirk honored with a standing ovation

Trump later focused his attention on Erika Kirk, Charlie's widow.

"And Erika is here someplace? Erika, where is Erika?" he inquired of the audience, which erupted in a standing ovation as she was found in the crowd, prompting a chant of "Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!" to erupt in her husband's memory.

A memorial service, organized by Turning Point USA, is scheduled to take place on Thursday at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was shot and killed. The event has drawn criticism from some students for choosing the university as the venue.

An open letter, which has gathered over 600 signatures, has criticized the decision to allow TPUSA to hold the memorial on university grounds. The UVU students say the memorial should not be used as a political tool. 

UVU’s Students for a Democratic Society club is set to protest the TPUSA memorial to Kirk on Thursday evening before the event begins.