President Donald Trump was absent from a prayer vigil honoring slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at the Kennedy Center on Sunday evening, September 14, 2025, after spending the weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. The vigil drew 85 members of Congress and key administration figures, but Trump’s schedule showed no public events for Sunday.
The president returned to the White House at 6:30 p.m. after large crowds had already formed outside the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The memorial service began at 6 p.m. and featured prominent Republican officials including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Leavitt addressed Trump’s absence during her speech at the vigil. Leavitt stated, “I speak on behalf of the president when I say President Trump loved you, Charlie, so much.” The press secretary indicated she owed her position to Kirk’s work in mobilizing young voters for Trump and noted he was the first person to congratulate her on landing the press secretary role.
Senator Jake Hoffman of Arizona, identified as a friend of Kirk, told attendees that both Trump and Vice President JD Vance care deeply about Kirk. His remarks received substantial applause from the gathered crowd. Johnson spoke about the mixture of emotions following Kirk’s assassination, describing feelings of grief, anger, and fear that had affected national leaders and students across the country.
Kennedy received enthusiastic chants of “USA! USA!” when he took the stage. The 71-year-old health secretary described his relationship with Kirk as spiritual brothers and indicated Kirk played a primary role in his political unification with Trump. Kennedy revealed he and Kirk had discussed the dangers they faced from challenging established interests, with Kirk asking if he was afraid to die.
Trump had spoken about Kirk’s death on Saturday night during a “Hope Through Education” gala at his Bedminster residence. During that event, he discussed the suspect in Kirk’s murder, Tyler Robinson, becoming radicalized. The president confirmed his administration was investigating foreigners living in America who celebrated Kirk’s death online.
Despite missing the vigil, Trump reiterated Sunday that he would attend Kirk’s funeral next weekend in Arizona, following his state visit to the United Kingdom. Trump indicated he would take several people with him on Air Force One for the Arizona trip. When asked about First Lady Melania Trump’s attendance at the funeral, the president noted he had not discussed it with her yet.
The president continued his criticism of what he termed the “radical left” on Sunday, building on comments from his Saturday night appearance. Trump characterized the problem as originating from the left and referenced agitators who speak negatively about the country and burn American flags. He contrasted this with conservative behavior, indicating Republicans would not celebrate if something happened to their political opponents.
Kirk was killed on Wednesday, September 11, 2025, at Utah Valley University. After an extensive manhunt, the FBI announced on Friday that 22-year-old Tyler Robinson had been identified as the suspect in the shooting. Robinson is expected to face charges on Tuesday.
The vigil proceedings highlighted Kirk’s influence on conservative politics and youth engagement. Speakers emphasized his role in recruiting and training what Johnson called a generation of “happy warriors.” The emotional gathering served as both a memorial service and a political rally, with attendees reflecting on Kirk’s impact on Republican politics and Trump’s electoral success among young voters.
Trump’s absence from the Kennedy Center event follows a pattern of tension between the president and various cultural institutions. Earlier this year, Trump took control of the Kennedy Center, firing leadership and appointing himself chairman while vowing to eliminate programming he considered too “woke.” The center has experienced significant challenges under his leadership, with subscription sales dropping by more than one-third year-over-year.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding Trump’s decision to skip the memorial service. The event concluded with speakers praising Kirk’s dedication to conservative causes and his role in shaping modern Republican youth outreach efforts. Attendees expressed determination to continue Kirk’s work in political activism and voter engagement despite the loss of the influential conservative activist.
