The Early Viewership Numbers from Charlie Kirk's Memorial Are In - 'Likely the Most Viewed Gospel Presentation Ever'

The American Left was eager for Charlie Kirk’s memorial service to collapse into bitterness, resentment, and partisan rage. Media elites openly anticipated a Republican gathering they could smear as a “Nazi rally,” a grotesque caricature of people grieving the brutal assassination of one of conservatism’s brightest young leaders.

Instead, what unfolded in Glendale, Arizona, was something far more profound: an outpouring of Christian worship, faith, and forgiveness — on a scale rarely seen in human history.

Journalist and author Saleno Zito captured the truth of the moment on X:

“The left & the press & the Never Trump folks were expecting a Wellstone moment. (Look it up),” she wrote.
“What they got was a revival. An Awakening. Likely the most viewed gospel presentation ever in the history of the country perhaps the 🌍. They really have no idea what has been unleashed.”

Zito’s reference was to the infamous 2002 memorial for Democrat Sen. Paul Wellstone, which degenerated into a crass partisan spectacle so over-the-top that even liberal Slate admitted the event was “overshadowed” by “the angry piety of populism.”

By contrast, Kirk’s memorial was grounded in faith. The thousands who filled the arena and the tens of millions who watched online weren’t rallying for political gain. They came to honor a man whose life testified that Christianity is greater than politics.

Pastor Rob McCoy, Kirk’s longtime spiritual mentor, opened with a powerful altar call. Christian apologist Frank Turek, a close friend who stood with Kirk in his final moments, laid out the heart of the faith:

“Charlie Kirk is in heaven, not because he sacrificed himself for his Savior,” Turek said. “Charlie Kirk is in heaven because his Savior sacrificed Himself for Charlie Kirk.”

The most moving moment came from Erika Kirk, the widow of the slain conservative leader, who echoed Christ’s words from the cross and applied them to her husband’s killer:

“On the cross, our Savior said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they not know what they do,’” she said. “That man, that young man — I forgive him.”

Her declaration of forgiveness brought the crowd to its feet.

“I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do,” she continued. “The answer to hate is not hate. The answer, we know from the Gospel, is love and always love — love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.”

The service reached far beyond Arizona. Andrew Kolvet, producer of The Charlie Kirk Show, revealed staggering numbers:

“Our production and streaming partners tracked over 100 million overall streams for today’s tribute to Charlie. This is JUST what they know about. It’s likely much larger,” Kolvet said. “Over 100 million people just heard the Gospel proclaimed again and again by speaker after speaker. Truly remarkable.”

Theologian Owen Strachan described the service succinctly in one word: “WOW.”

The media’s disappointment was evident, especially in outlets like CNN that couldn’t resist taking potshots at President Donald J. Trump even in coverage of the memorial. But their efforts fell flat.

Instead of the partisan rage Democrats were hoping for, the nation — and the world — witnessed something much deeper: the Gospel preached to millions, a conservative movement united in faith, and the living testimony of forgiveness in action.

Charlie Kirk’s life and death reminded America of something timeless: politics matter, but Christ is greater.