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US President Trump said he can’t stand his opponents and smilingly said that maybe Charlie Kirk’s wife Erika Kirk can explain to him why that is not the right approach.
US President Donald Trump embraces Erika Kirk, during a memorial service for her husband, slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, at State Farm Stadium in Arizona, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)
US President Donald Trump said he disagreed with slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk when it came to not demonizing opponents. While Trump praised Kirk for showing generosity to those who opposed him, he stressed that he could not adopt the same approach.
Trump also appeared to appreciate Erika Kirk for her response to her husband’s killing.
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The memorial event was hosted by Turning Point USA in Arizona’s Glendale, the hugely influential youth political group founded by Charlie Kirk and now led by his widow, Erika, who also addressed the memorial.
The service drew an extraordinary level of attention and security, with the top brass of Trump’s administration joining tens of thousands in attendance, and some US media likening it to a state funeral.
“That young man, I forgive him,” she said of her husband’s alleged murderer, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, drawing uproarious applause from the crowd. State authorities have charged Robinson with murder and are pursuing the death penalty in the case.
🚨NEW: Trump calls out commentators, influencers, and media personalities that are celebrating Charlie Kirk’s assassination with jubilation (MUST WATCH) 🔥”These same people who spent the last 8 years trying to sit in moral judgement of anyone who disagreed with them suddenly… pic.twitter.com/dbgwPCrdli
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) September 21, 2025
When the President took the stage, he noted that Kirk had wanted “the best” even for his opponents but made clear that he disagreed with that outlook.
“I don’t want the best for them,” Trump said. “That’s where I disagreed with Charlie! I’m sorry, Erika. But now Erika can talk to me, and maybe they can convince me that’s not right. But I can’t STAND my opponent! Charlie’s angry, looking down, he’s angry at me now!” he quipped, in remarks that quickly spread online.
Trump then turned his fire on progressive critics, accusing them of hypocrisy. “Some of the people who called you a hater for using the wrong pronouns were filled with glee over the killing of a father with two children,” he said. “These same people who spent the last 8 years trying to sit in moral judgment of anyone who disagreed with them suddenly started cheering for a murder.” His comments were aimed at the deepening left-right divide in American politics and society, where liberals and conservatives often interpret the same events through opposing lenses and where culture-war flashpoints have widened the gulf between the two camps.
About the Author
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More
Glendale, Arizona
September 22, 2025, 08:45 IST
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