Erika Kirk faced a heartbreak no parent should ever endure: explaining to her young children that their father had been brutally murdered.
The widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk sought guidance on how to approach the devastating conversation with their kids.
Asked Usha Vance for advice
Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot last Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University. His suspected killer, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, is awaiting capital murder charges.
Investigators say Robinson may have been radicalized online and left taunting messages on the bullets used in the attack, including anti-fascist phrases like, “Hey, fascist! Catch!”
The murder of Charlie Kirk has rocked the world, yet behind the headlines, a family mourns their beloved husband and father. Erika will never hold Charlie’s hand again, and they will never share the priceless moments of watching their children become independent and courageous adults.
At the same time, Erika had to find a way to talk to her children about the terrible tragedy that happened.
Vice President JD Vance revealed on Monday while hosting The Charlie Kirk Show that Erika reached out to his wife, Usha Vance, for advice.
“My wife told me, ‘Erika asked me for advice on how she should tell her children that their father had been murdered,’” he shared.
4-word message to Charlie Kirk’s widow
Since the tragic murder, the Second Lady of the United States has been offering support to Charlie Kirk’s wife.
On Friday, September 12, Vice President JD Vance’s wife, Usha, and Erika Kirk were seen holding hands as they stepped off Air Force Two, with JD following closely behind. As they disembarked, Usha was captured turning toward Erika and gesturing to guide her.
She offered a brief but heartfelt message of comfort to Erika after her husband was fatally shot earlier this week.
In the footage, Erika appeared to lean on Usha for support as they walked off the plane, escorting her husband’s casket home. According to professional lip reader Nicola Hickling, Usha said, “Let’s walk slowly… together [she points].” She then added, “We’re going to head over there, he’s gonna be here [points].”
“I said..”
Charlie and Erika Kirk met in 2018, got engaged in December 2020, and married in May 2021. They welcomed their daughter in August 2022 and a son in May 2024, just weeks before Charlie’s death.
During a press conference on Friday, Erika Kirk opened up about the ordeal and how she handled talking to their 3-year-old daughter about the tragedy. “What do you tell a three-year-old? She’s three,” she said.
“I said, ‘Baby, daddy loves you so much. Don’t you worry. He’s on a work trip with Jesus, so he can afford your blueberry budget.’”
Erika expressed gratitude for the support she has received from law enforcement, friends, and political figures. She specifically thanked Vance and his wife, as well as former President Donald Trump.
“Charlie always said that when he was gone, he wanted to be remembered for his courage and for his faith,” Erika said. “Most of all, Charlie loved his children, and he loved me with all of his heart. My husband laid down his life for me, for our nation, for our children.”
”Have no idea what they have done…”
Erika also vowed to continue her husband’s work, announcing that The American Comeback Tour would continue in the fall. “I honestly have no idea what any of this means. I know that God does, but I don’t,” she said. “All the evildoers responsible for my husband’s assassination have no idea what they have done.”
JD Vance described Kirk as his “dear friend” and “the smartest political operative I’ve met.” He emphasized Kirk’s impact on conservative politics, calling him a “critical part of getting Donald Trump elected” and praising him as a devoted husband and father.
Matt Lamb, a former Turning Point USA official, reflected on Kirk’s legacy, telling PEOPLE, “Certainly, he has a more important legacy than Turning Point in his wife and his two kids. His legacy will live on through that.”
Tyler Robinson, accused of killing Kirk, is expected to be formally charged on Tuesday, September 16, and could face the death penalty.
Utah authorities have described him as having “leftist ideology” and being influenced by extreme online communities. Utah Governor Spencer Cox noted that Robinson’s family helped authorities after a relative shared that he had “confessed to them or implied” he had committed the shooting.
As the nation mourns, Erika Kirk’s focus remains on her children and preserving her husband’s memory. “Thank you all again, who love my husband, who supported him, who wrote him an email every single day during his radio show, he read all of them, all of them. God bless you all. And God bless America.”