by Sharon Rondeau
(Sep. 23, 2025) — Early Monday morning former Maricopa County, AZ Sheriff Joseph M. Arpaio revealed on X he attended Sunday’s memorial service for conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was killed by an assassin’s bullet on September 10 while hosting a “Prove Me Wrong” event at Utah Valley University.
At the age of 18, he co-founded Turning Point USA with the purpose of encouraging young people to think independently, question “big government” and consider the traditions of marriage, having children and becoming a follower of Christ. For the last seven years, he hosted the popular “The Charlie Kirk Show” podcast.
The State Farm Stadium in Glendale was full to capacity Sunday at 73,000 people, with thousands more observing from the nearby Desert Diamond Arena. Planned in less than eleven days, the memorial tribute featured leading Christian performers Brandon Lake, Elevation Worship, Phil Wickham and Chris Tomlin.
Several Trump administration cabinet members, Vice President J.D. Vance and President Trump himself spoke at the event.
The address given by Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow and mother of his two young children, overwhelmed audiences worldwide when she said “I forgive him” of her husband’s killer in the spirit of Christ’s teachings and sacrifice on the cross.
Arpaio, 93, was Maricopa County Sheriff for six consecutive terms between 1993 and 2016. Since then he ran three unsuccessful political campaigns but states he is “NOT RETIRED.” Some in public life have recommended him to serve as a state ICE supervisor or in a similar role at the U.S. Secret Service.
“Honored to have attended a most touching memorial service to pay respects to national hero, Charlie Kirk, whom I first met when he was 18,” Arpaio posted on Monday morning. “Over the years I came to love Charlie.”
Their first meeting, Arpaio wrote on September 10, took place “when I spoke before the San Deigo Republican Club years ago when he was 18 years old at the time. I invited him to join me in confronting the large group of demonstrators against me present at the event. He did not hesitate.”
“As I sat in the front rows of the Memorial, I was very proud of the full stadium of attendees and the 10’s of millions of viewers supporting Charlie’s Kirk’s legacy from around the world,” Arpaio continued. “Charlie’s wife @MrsErikaKirk will do a fantastic job continuing Charlie’s legacy. The American people and I are here for her and her beautiful family. Rest in peace, Charlie.”
2005 I was ‘cancelled’ by the Gay Agenda, forced to drop out of school.
The Texas sodomy case resulting in decriminalization of homosexuality preceded the misapplication of the Equal Protection Clause and enhanced hate crime judgments. The Masterpiece Cakeshop case in Colorado and the Elane Photography Case in New Mexico set the stage for human rights violations and punitive fines.
DEI forced placement of LGBT in positions of power had them hiring each other and persecuting anyone who spoke out against them.
Equal Rights became Free Speech to influence school children, and then they went for government funding not only of abortion but transgender medical disfigurement and, in 2015, MARRIAGE.
Now, they are attacking Christianity and assassinated one of the most brilliant lights.
I have watched many Charlie Kirk debates and as someone schooled in the bible, science, and law saw a man whose IQ must have been around 180.
He was successful, so they killed him.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should Thank God that such men lived.” — General George S. Patton.
Rest In Peace, Charlie Kirk.