President Donald Trump was notably absent from a memorial vigil for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk held at the Kennedy Center on September 14, 2025, choosing instead to spend the weekend at his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey.
The prayer vigil began at 6 p.m. on Sunday evening, drawing massive crowds and 85 members of Congress to commemorate Kirk, who was murdered on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University. Trump returned to the White House at 6:30 p.m., after the ceremony had already begun and long lines had formed outside the Washington venue.
Despite Trump’s absence, several high-profile administration officials and Republican leaders attended the vigil. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt were among the key figures present at the memorial service.
Leavitt addressed Trump’s absence during her speech, stating that she spoke on behalf of the president when expressing Trump’s love for Kirk. Senator Jake Hoffman of Arizona, described as a friend of Kirk’s, told attendees that both Trump and Vice President JD Vance cared deeply about the deceased activist, comments that received significant applause from the gathered crowd.
The weekend prior to the vigil, Trump had discussed Kirk’s death during a “Hope Through Education” gala at his Bedminster residence on Saturday night. During that event, he addressed the suspect in Kirk’s murder, Tyler Robinson, and discussed how the individual had become radicalized. Trump’s Sunday schedule included no public events before his return to Washington.
Johnson spoke emotionally about the impact of Kirk’s assassination, describing a mixture of grief, anger and fear that had settled over the nation. He characterized Kirk as someone who recruited, trained and educated a generation of what he called “happy warriors.” The House Speaker noted that the killing had shaken leaders across the nation and affected university students nationwide.
Kennedy received an enthusiastic welcome at the vigil, with attendees chanting “USA! USA!” as he took the stage. The 71-year-old health secretary described Kirk as a spiritual brother and credited him as the primary architect of his political alignment with Trump. Kennedy revealed that he and Kirk had previously discussed the dangers they faced from challenging established interests, including conversations about the fear of death.
Leavitt praised Kirk’s influence on American youth political engagement, crediting his work with helping turn the political tide for young voters in favor of Trump during the election. She revealed that Kirk was the first person to congratulate her when she was appointed to her current role as press secretary.
Following Kirk’s death, Trump announced his intention to attend the funeral scheduled for the following weekend in Arizona. This commitment came after his planned state visit to the United Kingdom. When asked about whether First Lady Melania Trump would accompany him to the funeral, Trump stated: “I didn’t ask her that.”
The president used the weekend to reiterate his criticism of what he termed the “radical left,” particularly targeting individuals who had celebrated Kirk’s death online. Trump confirmed that his administration was already investigating foreign nationals living in America who had posted celebratory messages about the activist’s murder on social media platforms.
Trump characterized those celebrating Kirk’s death as deranged individuals, contrasting their behavior with what he described as the more respectful approach of conservative supporters. He pointed to flag burning incidents and other actions by left-wing activists as evidence of what he considered problematic behavior from political opponents.
The FBI announced on September 13 that 22-year-old Tyler Robinson had been identified as the suspect in Kirk’s murder at Utah Valley University. Robinson was expected to face charges on September 17, following an extensive manhunt that concluded with his identification by federal investigators.
The vigil represented one of the largest gatherings of conservative political figures since Kirk’s death, with attendees including both elected officials and media personalities who had worked closely with the activist. Kirk had been known for his work in conservative political organizing, particularly his efforts to engage young voters on college campuses across the country.
The White House had not responded to requests for comment regarding Trump’s absence from the memorial service at the time of the vigil. The president’s decision to remain at his golf property rather than attend the Washington ceremony marked a notable absence given Kirk’s significant role in conservative political circles and his relationship with the Trump administration.
