Erika Kirk, widow of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk, gave her first public speech since her husband’s assassination on Friday evening. She vowed to carry on the political movement he started.
Speaking from the same studio that was used by Charlie, Erika addressed an online audience of around 200,000 viewers just after 8:25pm.
During an emotional speech she called on Kirk’s followers to become members of a church before making a vow to her late husband.
‘Charlie, I promise I will never let your legacy fade, darling,’ she stated. ‘I pledge to make Turning Point USA more significant than ever in this nation.’
Her address came only hours after the man alleged to have shot and killed her husband was identified and arrested.
Wiping away tears, Erika Kirk thanked President Donald Trump and his family for their support after the shooting.
She addressed the President, saying, ‘Mr President, my husband cherished you, and he was aware of your mutual affection. Their friendship was remarkable, and your support for each other was unwavering, which meant everything to him.’
She also thanked Vice-President JD Vance and his wife Usha for ‘bringing him home’.
Erika Kirk, wife of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk made her first public address since her husband’s assassination on Friday evening
Vice President JD Vance, right, Second Lady Usha Vance, center, and Erika Kirk, carrying a cross on a chain, disembark from Air Force Two, transporting the body of Charlie Kirk, on Thursday.
Erika Kirk, wife of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, made her first public address since her husband’s assassination on Friday evening
Erika began her 15 minute long address after making a silent prayer.
Overcome with emotion, she thanked employees of Turning Point USA – which her husband co-founded.
‘My heart is with everyone of my husband’s employees who lost a friend and a mentor,’ she says. ‘He loved what he did.’
She expressed gratitude to law enforcement and the ‘first responders who valiantly attempted to save Charlie’s life, as well as the police who bravely acted to prevent additional tragedies that harrowing afternoon.’
Charlie Kirk’s death is being treated as a political assassination.
A photograph of Kirk was displayed on the podium, accompanied by the caption: ‘May Charlie be welcomed into the compassionate embrace of Jesus, our beloved savior.’
‘Charlie said if he ever ran for office, his top priority would be to revive the American family. That was his priority,’ Erika Kirk said.
‘Charlie loved life. He loved his life. He loved America,’ she added before describing some of her husband’s hobbies, and his favorite sports teams.
Erika Kirk call called her late husband Charlie the’perfect’ father, weeping throughout her comments
Erika began her 15 minute long address after making a silent prayer. Overcome with emotion, she thanked employees of Turning Point USA – which her husband co-founded
Right-wing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk appears at a Utah Valley University speaking event in Orem, Utah shortly before he was assassinated
‘Go ducks,’ she said with a smile, referring to the Oregon University sports team, adding that he would want her to say that because they play this weekend.
‘But most of all, Charlie loved his children. And he loved me. With all his heart. And he made sure I knew that everyday.’
She went on to call him a ‘perfect’ father, weeping throughout her comments.
In one particular heart-wrenching section of her speech, Erika said she doesn’t remember the last time she slept. She shared a story about the couple’s daughter, whom they referred to as GG, when she ran into her arms the night before.
”Where’s daddy?” GG asked.
‘What do you tell a three-year-old?’ she said. ‘”Baby, daddy loves you so much. Don’t you worry. He’s on a work trip with Jesus he can afford your blueberry budget,”‘ Erika said.
Wearing a cross necklace she focused on her Christian faith quoting a verse from the Bible.
‘Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.’ She praised God and said he is ‘incredibly good’.
She pledged Charlie Kirk’s message will continue and that the planned campus tour to US universities would keep going – as will the podcast he hosted.
Erika then addressed the killer directly: ‘You have no idea the fire that you ignited within this wife, the cries of this widow will echoes around the world like a battle cry’
Erika reached out to touch the chair where her husband once sat to present his podcast
In one particularly moving section, Erika Kirk told how her three-year-old daughter had been asking where her daddy was. ‘He’s on a business trip with Jesus’, she responded
She pledged to her late husband that that she would never let his legacy die.
‘In a world filled with chaos, doubt and uncertainty, my husband’s voice will remain,’ she promised.
Before concluding she addressed Charlie directly, saying: ‘I can’t wait to see you again one day.’
Erika had last been seen on Thursday when her husband’s casket arrived in his home state of Arizona aboard Air Force Two as Vice President JD Vance honored the conservative activist with a final flight.
Vance’s wife, Usha, stepped off the plane alongside Erika. Both women wore black and sunglasses while the vice president was a few steps behind in a dark suit.
Vance helped carry Kirk’s casket with a group of uniformed service members as it was loaded onto the plane.
Tyler James Robinson, 22, of Washington, Utah, was arrested in connection to Kirk’s killing
Tyler James Robinson, 22, of Washington, Utah, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice, all felonies, according to a probable cause statement filed in court and released Friday. A judge ordered that he be held without bail.
Robinson is registered to vote but is not affiliated with a political party, according to Utah state records.
He was also listed as inactive, meaning he had not voted in at least the last two general elections.
State and federal court records do not show any prior criminal cases involving him.
His listed address in the probable cause statement is the six-bedroom home of his parents, who own a granite countertop business and are registered to vote as Republicans.
The break in the case came after a family member of Robinson reached out to a family friend with information that Robinson had ‘confessed’ or implied involvement in the shooting, Utah Governor Spencer Cox told reporters on Friday, shortly after Robinson was taken into custody.
Cox said it is believed that Robinson acted alone. Family members said Robinson ‘had become more political in recent years,’ Cox said, describing a recent family dinner in which Robinson mentioned that Kirk planned to speak at UVU.
‘They talked about why they didn´t like him and the viewpoints that he had,’ Cox said, referring to Robinson and an unnamed family member. ‘The family member also stated Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate.’
