Trump admin updates: Trump at Charlie Kirk memorial service

The president and several of his Cabinet officials will speak at the service.

ByKevin Shalvey, Alexandra Hutzler, Ivan Pereira, and David Brennan
Last Updated: September 21, 2025, 4:09 PM EDT

President Donald Trump is among those who will speak Sunday at the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Cook, who was assassinated last week.

On his way out of the White House Sunday morning, Trump defended Attorney General Pam Bondi for doing a "great job" after appearing to criticize her the day before over the lack of prosecutions against his political opponents.

On Friday, Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi about a variety of topics, including trade and the TikTok deal.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Sep 15, 2025, 9:05 AM EDT

Treasury Secretary Bessent says they have 'framework for a TikTok deal'

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in Madrid for trade talks with China, said on Monday they have "a framework for a TikTok deal."

He said President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping will speak on Friday to "complete" the details.

“We’re not going to talk about the commercial terms of the deal, it’s between two private parties, but the commercial terms have been agreed upon," Bessent added.

China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing, September 2, 2025 and President Donald Trump in Morristown, New Jersey, September 14, 2025.
Getty Images

Sep 15, 2025, 8:45 AM EDT

Trump touts US, China trade talks, says he'll speak with Xi on Friday

In a post on his social media platform this morning, President Donald Trump said that an ongoing trade meeting between the United States, Europe and China is going well. Trump also seems to tease that a deal was reached over TikTok, but did not provide any more details.

"A deal was also reached on a 'certain' company that young people in our Country very much wanted to save. They will be very happy!," Trump wrote.

Donald Trump walks to Air Force One at Morristown Airport on September 14, 2025 in Morristown, New Jersey.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Trump also said that he'll be speaking with President Xi Jinping on Friday.

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie

Sep 15, 2025, 6:39 AM EDT

Vance to host Kirk’s podcast on Monday

Vice President JD Vance said he planned on Monday to host "The Charlie Kirk Show," a podcast usually hosted by the late political activist.

The body of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk is carried from Air Force Two, accompanied by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, (not pictured) as the aircraft lands at the airport in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S., Sept. 11, 2025.
Thomas Machowicz/Reuters

"Please join me as I pay tribute to my friend," Vance said in a social media post, in which he included a picture of a microphone apparently set up to broadcast.

The broadcast is expected to begin at noon ET, Vance said in his late-Sunday post.

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