Erika Kirk Eyes Presidential Library-Style Memorial for Slain Husband Charlie Kirk

Erika Kirk, widow of the assassinated Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, is in the process of collecting memorabilia from her husband's life and work, with the potential for it to be housed in a presidential library-style museum.

Kirk shared these plans in a recent interview with Fox News, stating that such a memorial is "on our list, and it's something that we have in the works." She is curating items such as Charlie Kirk's handwritten letters and Bibles gifted by Turning Point USA fans. "I'm just so blessed and grateful that Charlie left with us hundreds of his journals," Erika Kirk said. "He wrote down a lot about the future of Turning Point and the vision of Turning Point."

Charlie Kirk was killed on September 10, 2025, during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University. He was 31 years old. The alleged assassin, Tyler Robinson, 23, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and other charges.

Erika Kirk, now 37, has been more publicly visible since the one-year anniversary of her husband's death. She was appointed CEO of Turning Point USA following Charlie Kirk's assassination. Despite her leadership role, she reportedly works from a couch in Charlie Kirk's former office, rather than occupying a dedicated space.

Erika Kirk recently recounted the immediate aftermath of her husband's death in an interview with Vanity Fair. She described being urged by a police officer not to view Charlie Kirk's body, but she insisted, wanting to see her husband despite his fatal injuries. She described his appearance as having a "smirk" and a look that suggested he had "saw Jesus" and "fought the good fight."

Her public reactions in the wake of the assassination, including wearing a sequined suit at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest convention and her attire on Air Force Two, faced scrutiny and online criticism. Kirk has stated the suit was the only one that fit and that she sent a staffer to buy appropriate clothing, as her own shirt was deemed unsuitable for the somber occasion.

Meanwhile, the Kirk family has initiated legal action, sending a wrongful death notice to Utah officials. The notice claims that Utah Valley University made a series of "reckless" decisions that contributed to Charlie Kirk's death by leaving him vulnerable to the sniper. The family alleges the university failed to conduct adequate risk assessments, including scouting potential sniper locations, lacked a written security plan, and did not hold security briefings. The notice names the State of Utah, Utah Valley University, its police department, campus police chief Jeffrey Long, and former university president Astrid Tuminez, among others.

Utah Valley University's head of communications, Sharon Turner, acknowledged the notice of claim and stated the university addresses legal matters through its established processes, with its focus remaining on supporting the campus community.

An external review commissioned by UVU also found that Turning Point USA insisted Charlie Kirk speak outdoors at the university, despite campus officials' security concerns. The report indicated that the university failed to conduct a formal security assessment and did not adequately assess dangers like a potential rooftop shooter. The report further stated that campus officials did not create a written event action plan and deferred significant decision-making to Turning Point USA.