Erika Kirk acquired visibly emotional whereas being honored by President Donald Trump throughout his State of the Union tackle.
Charlie Kirk’s widow, 37, was noticed at america Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, February 24, to expertise Trump’s remarks reside and in individual.
“So final yr, Charlie was violently murdered by an murderer and martyred for his beliefs. His fantastic spouse Erika is with us tonight,” Trump, 79, informed attendees earlier than asking Erika, 37, to “stand” as the group applauded, to which she declined.
She started to tear up and blot her face as Trump continued his speech, telling her, “You’ve been by way of lots.”
“In Charlie’s reminiscence we should all come collectively to re-affrim that America is one nation, below God, and we should completely reject all political violence of any type,” he added.
Hours earlier than the tackle, Turning Level USA spokesman Matt Shupe defined why Erika needed to attend the tackle.
“President Trump has been a supply of energy for Erika, continually checking in along with her over the past 5 months, and Erika is extremely honored to be invited by the president to attend tonight’s State of the Union,” Shupe informed The Day by day Wire on Tuesday. “Erika has been thrust into an enormously vital position by destiny and tragedy — and since Charlie selected her ought to the horrible second ever come — and he or she has risen to the event with grace, dignity and a whole lot of onerous work.”
White Home press secretary Caroline Leavitt additionally confirmed that Erika can be in attendance for the State of the Union, which she promised would “have a good time 250 wonderful years of our nation’s independence and excellence, highlighting unimaginable tales of American heroes all through the speech.”
In keeping with Leavittthe president will name on Congress to firmly reject political violence in opposition to fellow residents.
Erika’s life modified endlessly in September 2025 when her husband was shot and killed whereas talking at Utah Valley College in Orem, Utah. He was 31.
A public memorial was held at State Farm Stadium in Arizona and was attended by each Trump, 79, and Vice President JD Vance.
One month after the memorial, Erika and Vance, 41, reunited at a Turning Factors USA occasion the place they embraced one another with a hug.
On the occasion, Erika honored her late husband earlier than introducing the vice chairman to the group.
“Nobody will ever change my husband,” Erika stated on the time. “However I do see some similarities of my husband in JD — in Vice President JD Vance. I do. And that’s why I’m so blessed to have the ability to introduce him.”
In November 2025, Erika discovered herself answering some lingering questions on her onstage hug with Vance.
“My love language is contact, if you’ll,” Erika defined throughout an look on Megyn Kelly Stay. “I will provide you with a play-by-play: They only performed the emotional video. I’m strolling over, (JD) is strolling over. I’m beginning to cry. He says, ‘I’m so pleased with you.’ And I say, ‘God bless you,’ and I contact the again of his head. Anybody whom I’ve hugged, that I’ve touched the again of your head once I hug you, I all the time say, ‘God bless you.’”
Hugs apart, Erika has continued to doc her grieving journey on social media.
In her first Valentine’s Day with out Charlie, the Turning Factors USA CEO shared a love letter from her late husband on social media.
“What I might give for another love letter…” she wrote by way of Instagram on February 13. “I like you Charlie child, you’ll all the time be my Valentine ❤️.”