Viewers have been left horrified by Donald Trump and Erika Kirk’s hug during Charlie Kirk‘s memorial service.
It became one of the many details that stood out during one of the most highly scrutinized memorial services in recent history.
The memorial, held on Sunday (September 21) at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, was monumental in scale.
Authorities estimated more than 100,000 mourners in attendance, nearly double the official capacity of the venue.
Thousands more gathered outside to pay their respects to the 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder, who was assassinated on September 10 during a university tour stop in Utah.
The event’s logistics and security rivaled those of a presidential inauguration. Armed patrols circled the stadium, TSA-style security checks screened all entrants, and bulletproof glass was installed to shield the speakers.
Officials later confirmed that a man dressed as a police officer and carrying a firearm was arrested while attempting to enter. The overall cost of security and planning reportedly reached $10 million.
The service included video montages chronicling Kirk’s rise as a prominent conservative voice, as well as speeches from friends, colleagues, and political allies.
Vice President JD Vance called Kirk a ‘brother in arms,’ while other speakers emphasized his ability to connect with young people in a polarized political landscape.
Erika Kirk delivered perhaps the most emotional tribute of the day.
Speaking to tens of thousands, she said she forgave her husband’s accused killer, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
“My husband wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,” she told the crowd. “The answer to hate is not hate. The answer is love.”
At one point, she raised her hand in the American Sign Language gesture for “I love you,” directing the sign upward in a symbolic message to her late husband.
Trump’s eulogy lasted around 40 minutes and included both praise for Kirk and moments of political messaging.
He referred to Kirk as ‘a martyr now for America’s freedom’ and ‘a great of his generation.’
Trump also claimed to reveal Kirk’s final words to him: a four-word plea, “Please, sir, save Chicago.”
The remark instantly resonated with the crowd, which erupted into cheers as Trump promised to fulfill the request.
But while Trump’s speech dominated headlines, it was a moment later in the service that would spark even more heated online debate.
Toward the end of the program, Erika joined Trump on stage. The two embraced as the audience applauded, and it appeared to be a solemn show of support in the face of tragedy.
However, clips of the hug soon went viral online – not because of the gesture itself, but because of Trump’s facial expression as he held Erika close.
Many viewers described the look as unsettling, with some calling it ‘creepy’ and ‘disturbing.’
TikTok and X users reacted in real time, with one person audibly gagging in a video and asking: “We can all read the thoughts going through his mind right? Like it’s not just me?”
Others admitted they were left uncomfortable by the footage, with one commenter saying: “I was crawling out of my skin about how weird it was,” and another bluntly adding: “It’s my fault for having eyes.”
