In a dynamic start to Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest 2025, Erika Kirk took to the stage in Phoenix on Thursday, December 18, to rally support for a potential presidential run by Vice President JD Vance. Addressing a crowd of enthusiastic supporters, Kirk, who recently took the reins of the influential conservative youth organization following the tragic assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, made a resounding endorsement of Vance.
Erika Kirk, stepping into her role as the new leader of Turning Point USA, vowed to maintain the Republican stronghold in Congress. “We are committed to ensuring my husband’s friend, JD Vance, becomes the 48th president in a historic victory,” she declared, drawing cheers from the audience. Her endorsement marks a significant moment in the conservative movement, as she seeks to continue her late husband’s legacy of influence and leadership.
JD Vance, if elected, would become the 48th President of the United States, succeeding Donald Trump. Erika Kirk’s public backing of Vance is the clearest signal yet of potential conservative momentum behind his candidacy, as the political landscape begins to take shape for the upcoming election cycle.
Charlie Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA and emerged as a key figure in bridging gaps within the conservative community, left a profound impact before his untimely death in September. Erika Kirk’s leadership aims to preserve and build upon his legacy, positioning Turning Point USA as a pivotal player in national politics.
Vance would be the 48th president if he takes office after Trump.
Kirk’s statement on Thursday is the most explicit backing of Vance’s possible candidacy by a woman who has been positioned as a steward to her late husband’s legacy. Charlie Kirk had become a powerbroker and bridge builder within the conservative movement before he was assassinated in September.
Vance is set to speak to Turning Point on Sunday, the conference’s last day. The convention has featured the usual spectacle and energy that have characterized the organization’s events, but the proceedings have also been marred by intense infighting among conservative commentators and estranged allies who have turned on each other in the wake of Kirk’s death.
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