**Top Officials Speak Behind Bulletproof Glass at Charlie Kirk’s Packed Memorial Service**
*Published Sept. 21, 2025, 5:50 p.m. ET*
As some of the nation’s top officials spoke at conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s packed memorial service, they did so behind thick sheets of bulletproof glass, RadarOnline.com can report.
Since Kirk was tragically gunned down while sitting out in the open during a college rally, politicians, celebrities, and others have all beefed up their personal security in fear of additional attacks.
An estimated 95,000 people filled the areas in and around State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday to celebrate Kirk’s life. Among the attendees were President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and a collection of secretaries and other prominent figures.
As President Trump waited for his turn to speak, he sat in a luxury box behind several slabs of bulletproof glass. Even the main speaker’s podium was surrounded on all sides by thick glass—an extremely rare security measure for an indoor event. These heightened precautions come after Kirk was brutally shot in the neck while speaking with college students.
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### Increased Security and Funding
In response to recent events, Congress is currently considering allocating $58 million in additional funding to enhance security for officials in the executive and judicial branches.
Some high-profile targets aren’t waiting for this funding. Last week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was assigned her own Secret Service detail, despite no known public threats against her.
Typically, the president and vice president are legally required to accept protection from the Secret Service. However, it is not unusual for other high-profile political figures—such as the White House chief of staff and national security adviser—to receive protection as well. While rare, press secretaries have been assigned Secret Service details before. In 2018, then-press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was given a team following an incident at a Lexington, Virginia, restaurant that refused to serve her.
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### Global Security Concerns Targeting Celebrities
Those without government-funded protection are taking their own safety measures. RadarOnline.com revealed that global music superstar Taylor Swift has been the subject of “legitimate threats” following Kirk’s murder.
Extra security was evident when Swift recently attended fiancé Travis Kelce’s NFL season opener. Viral video footage showed a bulletproof wall erected to guard Swift as she made her way to her seat. The secrecy surrounding her arrival sparked rumors among fans, with many speculating she was hiding a baby bump. However, insiders say the true reason was for her protection.
A source told the *Daily Mail*: “They used the screen to keep her safe. They have used that screen before, but usually it is for the President or someone like that, not a celebrity. But this was a weird week.”
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### Memorial Service and Rigorous Security Measures
Charlie Kirk’s memorial service began with bagpipes and the singing of the National Anthem. Various religious and political leaders spoke about Kirk’s life, his values, and his relationship with religion.
President Trump arrived in Arizona shortly after the service began. Other distinguished guests included Megyn Kelly, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Donald Trump Jr.
Security inside and outside State Farm Stadium rivaled that of a Super Bowl, a law enforcement spokesman exclusively told RadarOnline.com.
“We’ll be providing the same level of service that we provide for any other event. We’ll have officers patrolling the area and monitoring everything from outside the stadium,” Police Administrator Jose Santiago explained before the event.
Santiago also noted that the Arizona Department of Public Safety worked closely with the Secret Service inside the venue, while the Glendale Police Department coordinated with federal law enforcement agencies outside the stadium.
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The heightened security measures and the massive turnout underscore the impact Charlie Kirk had, as well as the increased concerns over safety for public figures nationwide.
https://radaronline.com/p/charlie-kirk-memorial-service-podium-bulletproof-glass-trump-jd-vance-pete-hegseth/
