The sudden death of conservative activist, Charlie Kirk has shaken the United States to its core. His death has led to new debates in political circles and grief among thousands of his supporters. While the country is still mourning his demise, his family is finding it difficult to cope with the loss. Charlie’s wife, Erika, 31, who is now picking up the scattered of her life for her children and his initiatives, recently opened up about her loss as thousands gathered for his funeral.
Erika Kirk reveals she asked her husband, Charlie, to wear a bulletproof vest before his Utah event
Charlie Kirk was shot in public while he was in the middle of a Q&A session at Utah Valley University. Despite the presence of security, they couldn’t save him. His widow, Erika recently sat down for an interview with The New York Times and revealed that just before the Utah event she had urged him to wear a bulletproof vest. But he refused and assured her that he felt safe with his security team and did not need it. She added that she had initially planned to travel with him, yet stayed behind to look after her mother, planning to join him at the next stop.
Erika Kirk shares how small reminders of her husband, Charlie, affect her
After Charlie Kirk’s death, Erika shared that the smallest reminders of her husband continue to affect her. She gave an example of how even his towels left on their bathroom floor are a painful memory to her. Erika admitted, “To this day, I can’t go into my bedroom”. Consequently, she now rotates where she sleeps. Despite the trauma, she said caring for their two young children has helped keep her grounded. Erika recalled that initially, the hospital staff asked her not to look at his body, but she said:
“With all due respect, I want to see what they did to my husband.”
President Donald Trump, VP JD Vance and crowd of thousands gather at Charlie Kirk’s funeral
On September 21, 2025, tens of thousands of people gathered at the State Farm in Glendale, Arizona, to honour Charlie Kirk’s work and life. The memorial service has been titled ‘Building a Legacy, Remembering Charlie Kirk’. The memorial service drew such a large crowd that it was already designated a 20,000-capacity venue. The authorities have paid special emphasis on the security of the venue, with the Secret Service designating it a SEAR Level 1 event, the same classification given to the Super Bowl. At the same time, Former President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and several members of the Cabinet addressed mourners. Sharing a special wish for Erika, JD Vance said:
“May he eternally rest in peace, and may God watch over Erika and their beautiful children.”
More about Charlie Kirk and Erika Kirk’s love story
Beyond politics, Charlie and Erika Kirk’s love story was an important part of his life. After dating for a brief period, the couple married in May 2021. They shared mutual views over their shared Christian faith and family values. Erika, who is a former Miss Arizona USA and entrepreneur, used to actively share inside moments from their life on social media. They welcomed a daughter in 2022 and a son in 2024. She runs initiatives like the Biblein365 program and the Midweek Rise Up podcast. Recently, after Charlie’s death, Erika has taken over the responsibility to manage his organisation, Turning Point USA.
We share our heartfelt condolences to Charlie Kirk’s family in this difficult time.
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