WATCH LIVE: ERIKA KIRK GIVES FIRST PUBLIC REMARKS SINCE HUSBAND CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION
For the first time since the assassination of her husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, his widow Erika Kirk has spoken publicly, delivering a deeply emotional statement that blended grief, gratitude, and a call for peace. Broadcast live from Phoenix, Arizona, her remarks marked a defining moment in the days following the killing that has shaken the nation.
Standing at a podium draped in black, Erika was flanked by family members and supporters as she addressed the media. Her voice trembled at times, but her words carried a quiet strength. “Charlie was my best friend, my partner in everything, and the father of our beautiful children,” she began. “To the world, he was a leader. To us, he was our heart. His absence is a wound we will carry forever.”
Kirk, just 31, was shot in the neck while hosting a campus debate event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. Despite immediate medical attention, he later died of his injuries, sending shockwaves across the political and cultural landscape. The FBI has since released surveillance footage of a suspect fleeing across a rooftop, though no arrest has yet been made.
In her remarks, Erika thanked those who had reached out in the wake of her husband’s death. “We have felt your prayers. We have read your messages. We have seen your love,” she said. “In these darkest days, those gestures have been the light guiding us forward.” She also expressed gratitude to first responders and investigators, urging continued vigilance in the search for her husband’s killer.
Perhaps the most powerful moment came when she addressed the broader climate of political violence. “Charlie believed in the power of ideas. He believed in spirited debate, in conversation, even when it was hard,” she said. “He never believed violence was the answer. If you wish to honor his life, do not respond to hate with hate. Choose compassion. Choose courage. Carry his mission forward in peace.”
Her words echoed across a country still processing both the shock of the assassination and the fierce political debates it has reignited. Former President Donald Trump has pledged to award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously, while leaders from both parties have condemned the killing as symptomatic of a dangerous rise in political hostility.
The widow also spoke tenderly about her children. “They may not understand everything yet, but one day they will know who their father was — a man who loved them beyond measure, who lived with conviction, and who believed in a brighter future for them and for all of us.”
As Erika concluded her remarks, she paused, her eyes glistening with tears. “Charlie, we love you. We miss you. And we will keep your light alive.” She then stepped back from the podium, embraced by her family as the room rose in silence.
For many watching live, Erika Kirk’s statement was more than a press conference; it was a moment of national mourning. Her grief was palpable, her resilience undeniable, and her message clear: amid tragedy, there must be unity, compassion, and hope.