Kennedy Center vigil for Charlie Kirk draws thousands of mourners, including Trump officials

Dan Belson, The Baltimore Sun on Sep 14, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

The Kennedy Center said that a Sunday evening vigil for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk drew a “full house” of mourners, including top Republican officials.

Among those in attendance in the 2,460-seat concert hall in Washington: House Speaker Mike Johnson, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

A spokesperson for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where President Donald Trump has installed a loyal board that named him chair, said there was “not an empty seat” in the concert hall on Sunday evening.. There were “hundreds, if not thousands, of people outside streaming the prayer vigil on their phones,” the spokesperson said

Kirk was fatally shot last Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University. The conservative activist, who founded the right-wing college group Turning Point USA, was 31. His assassination sparked condemnations from top Republican and Democratic officials, derogatory online statements that have cost some social media posters their jobs, as well as various vigils and memorial services.

“It’s as though a dark shadow has cast over our country,” Johnson, the Republican house speaker, said at Sunday’s vigil in Washington.

The program at the Kennedy Center opened with prayerful performances by Christian singer and songwriter Sean Feucht.

Attendees were searching for seats an hour after the planned 6 p.m. start time. The Kennedy Center said on the social media platform X that an overflow crowd was directed to its Grand Foyer.

Since firing the Kennedy Center’s board and announcing in February that he’d serve as chair, Trump has sought to reshape the performing arts venue in part by controlling its programming, which he has described as being too liberal and “woke.”

Kirk’s funeral is scheduled for next week in Arizona, followed by a Sept. 21 memorial service at State Farm Stadium.

_________