Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old far-right podcaster and MAGA youth influencer, was killed on 10 September in Washington DC. Known for his divisive commentary, Kirk built a large following by peddling racist, xenophobic, Islamophobic and misogynistic views.
The White House ordered US flags to be flown at half-staff in his honour, a move usually reserved for high-ranking officials. In the House of Representatives, the speaker called for a moment of silence, and a resolution eulogising Kirk passed by a 310-58 vote, nine days after his death.
Seven NFL teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, held in-game memorials for Kirk. The Cowboys displayed his image on Jumbotrons, a gesture typically reserved for former presidents or long-time team affiliates. The league had previously punished Black players for social justice protests.
Critics, including Boston University sociology professor Saida Grundy, have compared the memorials to the erection of Confederate monuments after the US Civil War, arguing they are an effort to enshrine Kirk's ideological legacy rather than to mourn a private citizen.
