Erika Kirk shared that she has forgiven the man suspected of killing her husband, Tyler Robinson, during an emotional speech at her husband’s memorial service.
Addressing a massive audience, Erika spoke directly about Robinson, who allegedly shot Charlie Kirk in the neck earlier this month.
The grieving wife and mother stood before over 60,000 attendees at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, saying that her husband would have wanted her to forgive the person responsible for his death.
‘He [Charlie] wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life,’ Erika said with applause from the audience.
‘That man, that young man, I forgive him,’ Erika said while breaking into tears.
Members of the crowd were in tears as Erika gave a powerful and moving tribute to the father of her two children.
President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and other cabinet members joined Erika to bid a heartfelt farewell to Kirk, who was assassinated on September 10 at Utah Valley University.
Robinson was taken into custody two days after the incident and faces a capital murder charge. Prosecutors and the Trump administration are advocating for the death penalty in a state where the firing squad is an execution method.
Just days after being appointed as CEO of Charlie’s conservative grassroots organization, Turning Point USA, Erika committed to continuing his work in his memory.
At the start of her speech, Erika was seen mouthing ‘I love you’ to Charlie before addressing the memorial audience.
The devastated widow described the moment she saw her husband’s dead body. Kirk tearfully said that she experienced a ‘level of heartbreak she didn’t even knew existed.’
‘I felt shock, I felt horror,’ Erika told the audience before ‘but even in death I could see the man that I love.’
Erika Kirk revealed she has forgiven her late husband’s suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson, during her heartbreaking tribute to her late husband at his memorial service
‘Even if Charlie had been shot in the operating room, nothing could have been done.’
The audience broke out in to massive applause after Erika said Charlie joined his savior, Jesus Christ, in paradise.
Erika also gave thanks to Second Lady Usha Vance for comforting her in the moments following Kirk’s murder.
‘We didn’t see violence, we didn’t see rioting,’ Erika. ‘We didn’t see revolution. Instead we saw what my husband always prayed we would see in this country. We saw revival!’
With tears streaming across her face, she praised Americans for turning towards the church for the first time in decades following her husband’s death.
Even though Charlie died too early, he was ready to die,’ Erika continued. ‘Charlie died with incomplete work, but not unfinished business.’
In a powerful moment before tens of thousands of supporters, Erika addressed Robinson, who is accused of shooting Charlie Kirk in the throat earlier this month
Erika Kirk looks out over the huge crowd at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, as she eulogizes her late husband
Erika Kirk said in an interview she wants to the government to decide if her husband’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, should get the death penalty
Robinson, 22, was arrested two days after he allegedly opened fire during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University
Erika was not with her husband when he was shot as she had to be with her mother who was undergoing medical treatment. The pair share two children together (pictured)
She went on to reveal that throughout their marriage Charlie would write her love notes with the question: ‘How can I better serve you as a husband?’
‘I was Charlie’s confidant,’ Erika said with sadness in her voice.
‘My marriage with Charlie was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I know it was the best for him as well. He wanted everyone to experience that joy.’
Erika went on to claim Charlie wanted to save ‘the lost boys of the west’ by encouraging them all to experience marriage and build a family.
The new Turning Point USA CEO was meant with a standing ovation, with shouts of ‘we love you’ upon entering the State Farm Stadium.
Tens of thousands of supporters gathered in State Farm Stadium to praise the legacy of the conservative activist after his assassination earlier this month.
In an interview with The New York Times published hours before the memorial, Erika said she wants the government to decide what happens to Tyler Robinson.
Days after she was announced as the CEO of his conservative grassroots organization, Turning Point USA, she vowed to carry on the movement in his honor
Erika Kirk spoke through tears and had the crowd of mourners on their feet with her poignant speech
‘I’ve had people ask, ‘Do you feel anger toward this man? Like, do you want to seek the death penalty?’ I’ll be honest. I told our lawyer, I want the government to decide this,’ Erika said.
She went on to say she does not want anything to do with the decision because it could create unwanted guilt, especially when it comes to her Christian faith.
‘I do not want that man’s blood on my ledger. Because when I get to heaven, and Jesus is like: ‘Uh, eye for an eye? Is that how we do it?’ And that keeps me from being in heaven, from being with Charlie?,’ Erika continued.
Speaking for the first time since her emotional speech just two days after her partner died, Erika revealed the exact moment she heard he’d been shot.
She had planned on traveling with him from Arizona to Utah that day, but she had to be with her mother who was undergoing medical treatment, Erika said.
President Donald Trump took the stage after Erika and revealed one of Charlie’s last pleas to him was to ‘save Chicago’.
President Donald Trump took the stage after Erika and revealed one of Charlie’s last pleas to him was to ‘save Chicago’
The president praised Kirk as one of his confidantes who would often give him advice before major announcements and events
‘One of the last things he [Charlie Kirk] said to me is: “Please sir, save Chicago” – we’re going to do that, we’re going to save Chicago,’ Trump said.
The president described Kirk as a confidante who would often call him with advice before major events or policy announcements.
Trump also credited the late firebrand for introducing him to Vice President J.D. Vance and for being an integral part of the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again
‘Charles James Kirk was heinously murdered by a radicalized leftist for speaking the truth that was in his heart,’ the president added.
‘He was violently killed because he spoke for freedom and justice, for God, touched for reason and for common sense. He was assassinated because he lived bravely.
‘He lived boldly, and he argued brilliantly without apology. He did what was right for our nation.’
