US President Donald Trump hailed the conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a great American hero and martyr during a speech to tens of thousands of mourners at a memorial service in Arizona.
Trump was the headline speaker at the packed event on Sunday, which saw top officials from his administration, including Vice-President JD Vance, praise Kirk's political legacy after he was shot dead on 10 September.
He was assassinated because he lived bravely, he lived boldly and he argued brilliantly, Trump told the crowd at the State Farm Stadium near Phoenix.
Kirk's wife, Erika, also delivered a tearful speech in which she said she had forgiven her husband's alleged killer.
My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life, she said, adding: I forgive him because it is what Christ did. The answer to hate is not hate.
Tens of thousands of people queued for hours outside the stadium before the event, with some even camping out the night before to secure their spot. Many wore Make America Great Again (MAGA) hats, other Trump-branded items and red, white and blue outfits.
Inside the stadium, the mood and atmosphere resembled a raucous political rally with music beforehand from Christian bands who prompted standing singalongs from the crowd of almost 100,000.
The list of speakers included members of Kirk's organisation, Turning Point USA, which focuses on conservative activism on college campuses, well-known figures in the conservative movement, Trump administration officials and those who said they had been shaped by Kirk's work and right-wing Christian worldview.
They stressed the need to continue the 31-year-old's activism and emphasised his deep faith throughout the five-hour service. Kirk, who was debating students at a university in Utah when he was shot dead from a nearby rooftop, was repeatedly described as a martyr.
Other speakers said they believed his death would further revitalise the conservative moment in America, which is already in a powerful position given Trump's hold of the White House and the Republican control of Congress.
The day that Charlie died, angels wept, but those tears have been turned into fire in our hearts, said Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff. Our enemies cannot comprehend our strength.
Within the stands of State Farm Stadium, Kirk was revered as an activist for free speech and a mobiliser of the youth vote for Trump. Charlie didn't just help, he made the winning difference, I promise you that, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said.
We wouldn't be here without him, Vice-President JD Vance told the crowd, who at times erupted into an extended chant of U-S-A, U-S-A.
They were followed by Kirk's wife, Erika, who was tearful at times as she described her relationship and vowed to continue her husband's work. She was named the new CEO of Turning Point USA after his death.
There was a raucous reception when President Trump took the stage after Erika Kirk. He repeatedly praised Charlie Kirk, while at times turning to his usual political talking points including crime in American cities and mocking his predecessor Joe Biden.
He's a martyr now for America's freedom, Trump said of Kirk. I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie. And neither now will history.
The deeply partisan event was reflective of how Kirk's death has laid bare the extreme political divisions in America, with many on the right casting blame on the left for stoking political violence.
