Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk, delivered her first public remarks Friday evening two days after her husband was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University, calling him a "martyr" and thanking law enforcement and senior Republican officials for their support.
Speaking in a livestream, Erika Kirk, 36, opened by addressing President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, saying, "Mr. President, my husband loved you, and he knew that you loved him too." She also thanked first responders and investigators and said she had "no idea what any of this means" but that she believed God did.
Authorities on Friday announced they had captured a suspect in the killing, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, and charged him with three state felony counts: aggravated murder, which carries the possibility of the death penalty under Utah law, obstruction of justice and discharge of a weapon causing serious bodily injury. The charges were filed after Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot Wednesday while speaking in front of a large crowd on the university campus.
Erika Kirk said the speaking tour her husband was on at the time of the shooting will continue, though it was unclear who will headline upcoming events. "I promise I’ll make Turning Point USA the biggest thing that this nation has ever seen," she said. Turning Point USA is a prominent conservative youth organization that Charlie Kirk helped found and led as chief executive.
The couple married in 2021 and had two young children, a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son. Erika Kirk said that when her daughter asked Thursday night where her father was, she told the child, "He’s on a work trip with Jesus." Erika Kirk has appeared regularly alongside her husband at events and has hosted a Christian podcast, run a faith-based ministry called BIBLEin365, and sold related streetwear.
In her remarks, she reiterated themes the couple often emphasized publicly, including the importance of marriage and child-rearing. She told the audience that Charlie Kirk had privately said that if he ever ran for office his top priority would be "to revive the American family." She added that those responsible for his killing had "no idea what they have done" and warned that his death would amplify his cause.
The investigation into the shooting remained active. Officials have provided limited public detail about the motive or circumstances leading up to the shooting, and prosecutors said more information would be revealed as the case proceeds. Robinson's arrest and charging mark the first formal criminal step following the attack.
President Trump and Vice President Vance, along with other Republican officials, have been publicly involved in the response; a photograph circulated by media showed officials and family members deplaning with Kirk's body on Air Force Two. Erika Kirk expressed gratitude for the support she said she had received from political leaders and vowed to continue the organization's work while grieving her husband.
A statement of formal arraignment or trial dates has not been released. Authorities cautioned that the investigation and legal process are ongoing as they prepare for forthcoming court proceedings and potential state-level decisions about seeking the death penalty.