Which Trump Will Attend Charlie Kirk’s Memorial? Angry and Divisive or Thoughtful and Unifying?

President Trump is set to speak Sunday at the memorial service for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and the question on everyone’s mind is: Will he seek to mend a politically fractured nation, or instead target Democrats as the cause of all things bad?Since the 31-year-old Kirk was murdered on September 10, Mr. Trump has often attacked political opponents, blaming them for the assassination. He went so far as to call for ouster of late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel for falsely claiming that the shooter was part of the “MAGA gang.”But presidents in every age are called upon to act as consolers-in-chief, uniting a politically divided nation in the face of true tragedies. Mr. Trump could play that role – as he has in the past – but he could also use the event to throw some red meat to his true-blue MAGA fans.The Department of Homeland Security has deemed the memorial service a “Level 1 Special Event,” a classification reserved for events of the “highest national significance.” SWAT teams have been mobilized, drones will be eyes in the skies, and swarms of officers are ready to handle any who might show up to protest.Things turned scary on Saturday when an armed man allegedly posing as a member of law enforcement was arrested by Secret Service agents at the site of the memorial. Police said the man was carrying a gun and a knife, along with expired law enforcement credentials. He was charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer – a felony – and carrying a weapon into a prohibited place.Protesters are expected. The public information officer at the Glendale police department, Jose Santiago, said “free speech zones” will be set up near the stadium. “As long as they are not violating the law they have the right to say and feel how they feel,” he told one news outlet, noting that no one will be arrested simply for celebrating Kirk’s death.While there will be protests, one Arizona-based chapter of the progressive group Indivisible is asking its members to stay away from the memorial. “We believe strongly in the right to protest and speak out, but we also know there are moments where restraint protects both our community and our democracy,” the co-chairman of Northwest Valley Indivisible, Brent Peak, said in a statement. “This is one of those moments.” The service will be held at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals and capable of holding more than 70,000 people. But even that may not be big enough. Fox News said more than 100,000 people are expected to attend, and organizers have set up overflow seating at Desert Diamond Arena, which is next door to the stadium.Some of the most prominent figures in the conservative movement, including Kirk’s close friend Vice President Vance, will gather in Arizona for the 11 a.m. (2 p.m. EDT) service. Both the president and vice president will speak, along with Secretaries Pete Hegseth, Marco Rubio, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Other notable speakers include White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Donald Trump Jr., former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, and top Trump aide Stephen Miller.Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, is also among those slated to speak at the service. She has taken over leadership of Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded that is headquartered in Arizona.Attendees were required to register online for the first-come, first-served event, with guidance suggesting a “Sunday Best – Red, White, or Blue” dress code. Admission to the funeral is free. Some news outlets, including Fox News and ABC News Live, plan to broadcast the event live.Kirk, 31, was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University. The suspected shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, has been charged with aggravated murder and six other counts. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray said he would seek the death penalty, calling the killing “an American tragedy.”Mr. Robinson’s mother told investigators that her son had become more political and leaned to the left in his views and had become “more gay and trans-rights oriented.” He had also started dating his roommate, a biological male who was transitioning.

Which Trump Will Attend Charlie Kirk’s Memorial? Angry and Divisive or Thoughtful and Unifying?

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