Turning Point USA named Erika Kirk, the widow of founder Charlie Kirk, as its new chief executive officer and chair of the board on Thursday, the nonprofit announced. The unanimous decision comes roughly a week after Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University.
Charlie Kirk’s death occurred on September 10 when he was shot in the neck while speaking at a Turning Point USA event. Authorities have identified the suspected shooter as Tyler Robinson, 22, who has been described as the alleged killer.
Erika Kirk delivered her first public address since the shooting on Friday evening, speaking from a studio and standing beside the empty chair that once belonged to her husband. In roughly 16 minutes of remarks, she pledged to keep Turning Point USA's mission alive, including continuing the planned campus tours and the podcast, and she spoke of Charlie’s love for his family and his country.
She thanked President Donald Trump and his family for their support, and she acknowledged the help of Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, in bringing Charlie Kirk home after the shooting.
The Vice President and Second Lady were seen comforting Erika as Kirk’s casket was returned to Arizona, the organization said. Kirk is survived by two children, a daughter born in 2022 and a son born in 2024.
During her remarks, Erika portrayed Charlie Kirk as a devoted father and husband who believed deeply in patriotism and faith, and she pledged that his message would continue to resonate beyond his lifetime. She reaffirmed TPUSA’s commitment to expand campus outreach and to grow the organization’s media initiatives.
TPUSA described the plan to press forward with the campus tour and podcast as central to preserving Charlie Kirk’s legacy, and to expanding the movement’s reach in the years to come.
This is a developing story; further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.