Sept. 21, 2025, Published 4:25 p.m. ET
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Former President Donald Trump stirred controversy by arriving lateâsoloâto the highly publicized memorial service for Charlie Kirk, according to reports from RadarOnline.com.
Despite a significant political crowd gathered at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Trumpâs delayed entrance raised eyebrows, particularly due to the ongoing speculation regarding his wife, Melania Trump, who was notably absent from the event.
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A Crowded Venue
The stadium was filled with attendees.
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Absence of Melania Trump
Melaniaâs absence was conspicuous.
Trump arrived amidst criticisms, settling behind a substantial sheet of bulletproof glass. Observers described him as looking âsleepy,â leading to further speculation about his emotional response to the memorial for Kirk.
Social media reactions were swift: âThe memorial STARTED AT 2:00 pm. Trump is en route to the memorialâthis means THAT TRUMP IS ALMOST AN HOUR LATE TO CHARLIE KIRKâS MEMORIAL,â one user tweeted. They continued, âThis is beyond rude and disrespectful!â
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The discussions around Melaniaâs absence compounded the publicâs curiosity, with commentators asking, âMelania Trump is definitely not on the trip to Arizona. Why does she hate Charlie Kirk?â Another wondered, âWhere is Mrs. Trump? Does she not care about Charlie?â
Moreover, observers noted Trump was seated alone, fueling queries about the whereabouts of Melania and their son, Barron.
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Breaking News
Trump had a close relationship with Kirk.
Trump was one of the first to announce the death of Charlie Kirk after he was tragically shot on September 10 while addressing students at a university in Utah. The former president also shared information regarding the arrest of the suspect, Tyler Robinson, during an appearance on Fox & Friends, indicating optimism about the situation.
Prior to the memorial, Trump publicly hailed Kirk as a friend, expressing his intention to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He categorized the situation as a âdark moment for Americaâ and promised to address the growing issue of political violence.
In an emotional video streamed from the Oval Office, Trump conveyed his feelings of grief and anger regarding Kirkâs untimely passing.
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Absence at Vigil
Trump opted for golf over attending the vigil.
Significantly, Trump skipped a vigil held for Kirk at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on September 14. Instead, he was reportedly enjoying a day of golf in Bedminster, New Jersey, returning to the White House later that evening after the vigil had concluded.
While Trump was notably absent, 85 members of Congress attended the vigil, along with other prominent MAGA supporters such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Leavitt publicly acknowledged Trumpâs fondness for Kirk, stating, âI speak on behalf of the president when I say President Trump loved you, Charlie, so much.â
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