After following this insult to shitshows for the worse part of the afternoon (copypasta from The Guardian's live coverage brought tumbleweeds to the Discord server), we finally have a final story.
I want to be abundantly clear that we all have our opinions about Kirk and the circumstances surrounding his death. That is not what this thread is about; it's about the ... whatever that was. Ostensibly a memorial, it was obviously more political event than anything else.
But if you're playing Nazi bingo, get your card out.
Tens of thousands gathered in Arizona on Sunday for a public memorial to honor Charlie Kirk, the rightwing youth organizer who was fatally shot during an event at a Utah college.
Donald Trump gave the last of more than two dozen speeches, following emotional remarks from Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, and eulogies from the vice-president, JD Vance, four cabinet members and other senior White House officials, a reflection of the murdered activist’s deep imprint on the president’s Make America Great Again (Maga) movement.
Trump’s remarks were an awkward mix of eulogy and campaign speech, during which he frequently veered away from reading somber remarks about Kirk’s life and violent death to make offhand comments and jokes.
At one point, Trump mentioned that, shortly before he died, Kirk told a staff member he was not afraid of students who disagreed with him in the crowd at Utah Valley University. “I’m not here to fight them – I want them to know them and love them,” Trump quoted Kirk as saying. “In that private moment on his dying day, we find everything we need to know about who Charlie Kirk truly was.”
“He did not hate his opponents, he wanted the best for them, ”Trump said, before breaking from his prepared remarks to add: “That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponents, and I don’t want the best for them, I’m sorry.”
Dude. You're the keynote speaker at a memorial (already an odd concept) ... you can't keep your remarks short and focused on the deceased?
I know you need to be in front of a camera, but you have cameras back at the White House. And on Air Force One.
ETA: Shame this didn't make it into the final cut from the live feed:
Several attendees were leaving the stadium while Trump continued his remarks in honor of Charlie Kirk – part remembrance, part grievance.
This happened just past 4pm local time (7pm ET), meaning some guests have spent more than 12 hours waiting for the speech. The president’s tribute started about an hour behind schedule.
Christofascists just like "fuck this, I'm out."
Sounds like a good spot. Lots of targets