Grieving Parents Mourn Charlie Kirk as His Coffin Departs Utah

Salt Lake City — Grief-stricken parents of conservative activist Charlie Kirk held each other tightly Thursday as they stood before their son’s mahogany coffin, a painful image of a family and movement in mourning.

The heartbreaking moment came after a ceremony at Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base. There, Vice President JD Vance helped National Guard members carry Kirk’s casket onto Air Force Two. His remains are being flown to Arizona with his wife Erika, their two children, and his parents.

The tribute followed the shocking assassination of the 31-year-old at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. The attack stunned his family, supporters, and political allies nationwide.

President Donald Trump confirmed he will attend Kirk’s funeral in Arizona. Calling Erika “devastated,” he ordered flags lowered to half-staff and praised Kirk as “the Great, and even Legendary” voice for American youth.

Kirk rose to prominence in 2012 when he co-founded Turning Point USA with mentor Bill Montgomery, who encouraged him to forgo college. The group grew into a powerful force in campus activism and conservative politics.

Though outspoken in debates on abortion, gun rights, and other issues, Kirk kept his family largely private. His father, Robert, worked in construction and helped on Trump Tower, while his mother, Kimberly Ann, was a counselor. His sister Mary pursued art, while Kirk credited a clash with a teacher — not family politics — for sparking his activism.

A funeral will be held next week in Arizona. For now, tributes continue to pour in, as supporters reflect on a life that left a lasting mark on American politics.