On September 21, 2025, the United States federal law enforcement department stated that the highest level of security measures has been arranged for the memorial service of Charlie Kirk, held on Sunday (September 21), to protect the President, dignitaries, and at least over a hundred thousand on-site mourners, equivalent to the security level of the Super Bowl.
This memorial event took place at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona, posing a significant test and pressure on law enforcement agencies, especially the United States Secret Service.
William Mack, the head of the Phoenix office of the US Secret Service, stated in a release, “Our team has arrived in Phoenix and Glendale, working shoulder to shoulder with state, local, and federal partners. We are working together to ensure these solemn events receive the comprehensive protection and support they require.”
The podium for the memorial service is set at the front and center of the State Farm Stadium in Arizona, surrounded by bulletproof glass. Many dignitaries will take the stage to speak, including U.S. President Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Such protective measures have now become standard security protocols for protecting the President at large events in open spaces, especially after an attempted assassination on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania last July.
A senior official from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that law enforcement agencies have rated the security level of this memorial service as “Level 1 special event assessment rating” (SEAR-1), the highest level in the system. Prior major events such as the Super Bowl and the Kentucky Derby have also received this rating. This rating enables the federal government to mobilize resources from various agencies to jointly carry out security missions.
The official said, “This assessment is specifically used for events of the highest national significance, allowing the federal government to provide comprehensive law enforcement and security resources to support local officials in ensuring the secure and successful conduct of the event.”
According to ABC News, federal agencies had already “tracked several unspecified credible threats” before the memorial service.
Kirk was the co-founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA. On September 10, the 31-year-old conservative activist was shot and killed during a speech at Utah Valley University campus. The suspect is a 22-year-old radical leftist. Prosecutors in Utah have sought the death penalty for the suspect.