Anyone who watched Erika Kirk’s emotional September 12 video statement about the killing of her husband, 31-year-old Charlie Kirk, will likely never forget the way she said, “But most of all, Charlie loved his children, and he loved me with all of his heart.”
It’s been just over a week since Charlie was killed while addressing students at Utah Valley University on September 10, but the absence of the Turning Point USA founder’s voice is pronounced.
One week after Charlie had been killed, on Wednesday, September 17, Erika shared a heartfelt tribute to her husband, praising him for a life lived in pursuit of “excellence.”
“This is one of the last photos taken of you before you were murdered,” she wrote. “I look at it and can’t help but see excellence.”
On Thursday, September 18, Erika was named the CEO of Turning Point USA.
Erika Kirk Posts Moving Tribute To Her Late Husband
“You loved witnessing excellence,” begins Erika Kirk in her September 17 tribute to her late husband, Charlie. “It’s why you loved sports so much. You loved watching the best of the best perform at the level of greatness God intended for them.”
From there, she recalls how they played basketball together when they first started dating in 2019, writing, “I loved seeing you in that element because time was irrelevant. It was just us, the sound of sneakers squeaking and jump shots.”
She added that they bonded over the greatness of the legendary NBA player Michael Jordan.
Erika then noted that Charlie always wore a red bracelet that read, “Work harder, be better,” and she says he lived up to that message.
Continuing, she wrote:
“Years later, one day after an event on campus a student asked you about your bracelet, and you gave it to them. I have no idea who that student was or where they are today, but I have no doubt they’re working harder and being better, because you set the tone.”
Her tribute includes a photo of her husband tossing Turning Point USA hats into the crowd at Utah Valley University minutes before he was killed on September 10.
Describing this photo as capturing Charlie’s “excellence,” she added, “You’re in your element. You’re in athlete mode. Training for this exact moment, mind, body, and soul.”
Referring to their affinity for Michael Jordan, she stated, “To me, this is your ‘Jordan’ photo.”
This photo, she says, is “permanently etched in time, held in my heart, as I admire your greatness. Forever.”
Concluding her tribute, Erika wrote, “I pray you’ve had the most amazing week in Heaven.”
See the photo and her full tribute, here:
Charlie And Erika Kirk Talk About Marriage
Following the reelection of President Donald Trump in 2024, Erika and Charlie sat down for a few conversations about living life as a conservative Christian couple in highly-secular times.
Taking questions from viewers of The Charlie Kirk Show on April 13, the first question they were asked concerned how long they had been married and how someone knows it’s time to get married.
Responding, Erika said, “We’ve been married since 2021, engaged 2020…”
Charlie chimed in, “So it’ll be four years.”
Erika then added that with the birth of both of their children, they “have so many dates to remember.”
Speaking on how they knew it was time to get married, Erika said, “You just know … and plus, we were ready to start our life together.”
Interestingly, the next question asked was: “Who is more conservative and why?”
Charlie was quick to answer that his wife was more conservative than he is, “by far, not even close,” adding that he appears “moderate” compared to Erika.
Watch Charlie and Erika Kirk take questions together on The Charlie Kirk Show, here:
They also did a talk together at TPUSA’s America Fest Conference in December of 2024, speaking on Biblical marriage and Erika’s ministry, Biblein365.com, which can be watched, here:
