Trump skipped Charlie Kirk’s Washington vigil after a weekend in Bedminster but will attend his Arizona memorial.
President Donald Trump missed the Sunday night vigil for conservative activist Charlie Kirk at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., choosing instead to return from a weekend at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf club.
Kirk, a close ally of Trump and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University.
The vigil, which began at 6 p.m. and drew several high-profile Republicans, included remarks from House Speaker Mike Johnson, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Leavitt said Trump “loved” Kirk “so much,” while RFK Jr. described him as a “spiritual brother” and “soulmate.”
Though absent, Trump plans to attend Kirk’s memorial in Arizona on September 21. He has pledged to posthumously award Kirk the Medal of Freedom.