Charlie Kirk's memorial is expected to draw a powerful crowd in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday, with prominent figures such as former President Donald Trump.
The memorial service, which will be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, poses an enormous challenge for law enforcement, particularly the U.S. Secret Service, which has already been under significant pressure.
The service will commemorate the life of Kirk, whose assassination sent shockwaves through political circles.
What are the risks associated with the memorial?
The event highlights the risks associated with the targeting of high-profile political figures. Whether or not the memorial will be designated as a national special security event—granting additional federal resources—remains uncertain.
“The Secret Service joins the nation in offering our deepest condolences to the Kirk family and friends,” said Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi in a statement via CNN.
“Joint security planning is underway for the memorial and funeral of Charlie Kirk and appropriate public safety related information will be provided as the process matures in the coming days.”
State Farm Stadium, with a seating capacity of over 63,000, is set to host the event. The venue, home to the Arizona Cardinals, has a retractable roof, allowing it to be either fully enclosed or open-air.
The memorial, organized by Turning Point USA, is expected to be an immense logistical undertaking for law enforcement, who must coordinate the placement of magnetometers, security staff, and emergency response teams, while ensuring a comprehensive security plan is in place.
"This location may be seen as an attractive target for a hostile actor because of its visibility," said Jonathan Wackrow, a former Secret Service agent and CNN contributor who specializes in risk management.
"The potential for it to be disrupted through a series of different threats, or even the threat of a threat, is something that law enforcement really has to focus on and then put the mitigation protocols in place now.”
In addition to addressing the risk of incidents like vehicle ramming or biological threats, security will include counter-snipers and other measures to protect key figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has indicated his likely attendance.
As the memorial nears, the White House has requested an additional $58 million in security funding, aimed at bolstering protections for the executive and judicial branches following Kirk's death.
This funding request, reported by Punchbowl News, is being processed as part of a stopgap funding bill.
The significance of Charlie Kirk's tragic assassination
Kirk’s assassination has already prompted several political campaigns and groups to cancel events, citing security concerns.
The political landscape is shifting, and with the midterm elections approaching, candidates and public figures will increasingly face difficult decisions about how to balance the need for public engagement with the reality of heightened threats.
“There are a bunch of blinking red warning signs right now for individuals, whether you’re a member of Congress, you’re an elected official at the federal, state or local level, or, as with Charlie Kirk, a key political influencer, to be out there right now promoting your own political thoughts,” said Wackrow.
“Why? Because what we’re seeing is this massive shift in people normalizing targeted killing because of grievance.” Wackrow pointed to Kirk’s assassination, as well as other recent killings, such as the tragic murders of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the slaying of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan.
The memorial also comes at a time when the Secret Service is under significant strain due to competing demands.
Trump and the first lady are in the United Kingdom for a state visit ahead of the service.
General Assembly, one of the agency’s major annual security responsibilities, will be underway next week in New York.
The Secret Service is tasked with protecting more than 100 foreign dignitaries at the assembly, making it a critical moment for the agency.
“This is going to push the Secret Service to its limit,” said Wackrow. “It’s all hands on deck—but there’s multiple decks.” With limited resources, the agency may have to prioritize security efforts, which could create vulnerabilities elsewhere.
“I am sure that the moment that this event is over on Sunday, there will be planes ready to bring everybody back to New York, but you potentially have a gap that’s exposed in New York,” Wackrow added. “And if you think that foreign entities aren’t watching that and looking for it, don’t be fooled. They are.”