Is Melania Trump attending Charlie Kirk's memorial service? First Lady not seen boarding Air Force One

First Lady Melania Trump was not seen boarding Air Force One with Donald Trump. Her attendance remains unconfirmed.

Published on: Sep 21, 2025, 23:54:29 IST

By Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan

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President Donald Trump has landed in Arizona aboard Air Force One ahead of Charlie Kirk’s public memorial service, taking place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.

US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One before departing from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on September 21, 2025. (AFP)

Speaking to reporters before departing the White House, Trump said, “We're going to celebrate the life of a great man today. That something like this could have happened is not even believable. So we'll have a very interesting day, very tough day. We want to look at it as a time of healing.”

Also Read: Charlie Kirk Funeral Live Updates: Memorial draws huge crowd; Donald Trump, JD Vance set to speak

Melania's attendance unconfirmed

First Lady Melania Trump was not seen boarding the aircraft with the president, her attendance remains unconfirmed.

Traveling with President Trump were several prominent Republican figures, including:

House Speaker Mike Johnson

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles

Members of Trump’s cabinet

Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner

Also Read: Kash Patel's big update on famous Tyler Robinson theory ahead of Charlie Kirk's funeral

Second White House plane dispatched

In addition to Air Force One, a second plane has been dispatched to transport additional White House officials who wished to attend the service.

Vice President J.D. Vance is traveling separately, in line with protocol when both the president and vice president attend the same event.

Also Read: 'Make America Charlie Kirk’, Moving scenes from State Farm Stadium in Glendale as mourners call for unity | Photos

Confirmed speakers

The following individuals are confirmed to speak at today’s memorial service:

Erika Kirk (Kirk's widow and new Turning Point USA CEO)

President Donald Trump

Vice President J.D. Vance

Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth

Tulsi Gabbard

Donald Trump Jr.

Tucker Carlson

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller

Sergio Gor (Turning Point USA President)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan
Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan leads the US Desk at Hindustan Times, where she writes, strategises coverage, and ensures quality across all beats. With eight years of experience covering US news for leading publications, she has reported extensively on politics, entertainment, and sports. Vaishnavi holds a graduate degree in English, Journalism, and Psychology, and completed her PG Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the Manorama School of Communication, where she was awarded the prestigious Mammen Mappillai Award for Best Outgoing Student. She began her career at the International Business Times (US Edition), covering US breaking news, politics, and entertainment. She later joined Opoyi, reporting across all beats, including US sports and trending stories. Prior to Hindustan Times, she served as World Lead at Times Now News, covering comprehensive world news and events. Vaishnavi has expertise in politics, entertainment, and breaking news, and enjoys tackling stories across a wide range of topics. Beyond the newsroom, she is an avid traveller, a foodie who loves exploring new restaurants, and a pop culture enthusiast who enjoys watching latest shows and films. She also enjoys engaging in debates and discussions on Reddit.Read More

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