The following is a transcript of Erika Kirk’s press conference.
Good evening, my name is Erika Kirk. Charlie Kirk is my husband.
I first want to thank the local state and federal law enforcement who worked tirelessly to capture my husband’s assassin so that he can be brought to justice. I want to thank the first responders who struggled heroically to save Charles’ life. And the police who acted bravely to make sure that there were no other victims on the terrible afternoon.
I want to thank officers who have protected our Turning Point USA family these past two days. And I want to thank the Turning Point USA Board, COO Justin Streiff, and my husband’s chief of staff, the amazing Mikey McCoy, for all their work in these terrible days to be the stability for our family and for the wider Turning Point USA family as well.
Mrs. Erika Kirk Addresses The Nation After Her Husband’s Assassination@TPUSA @MrsErikaKirk pic.twitter.com/55Gvxtbc7G
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 13, 2025
My heart is with every one of my husband’s employees who lost a friend and mentor. I want to thank the staffers of this, his amazing Charlie Kirk show, who helped him broadcast from this studio. This chair, he loved it. He loved what he did.
I want to thank millions of people who have shown their love for Charlie here in Phoenix, across America, and worldwide.
I want to thank my husband’s dear friend, Vice President Vance, and his phenomenal wife, Usha, for their love and support. You guys honoured my husband so well bringing him home. You both are tremendous.
I want to thank President Trump and his incredible family for the same. Mr President, my husband loved you. Then he knew that you loved him too. He did. Your friendship was amazing. You supported him so well, as did he for you.
Two days ago, my husband Charlie went to see the face of his saviour and his God. Charlie always said that when he was gone, he wanted to be remembered for his courage and for his faith.
In one of the final conversations that he had on this earth, my husband witnessed for his Lord and Saviour, Jesus.
Now, and for all eternity, he will stand at his Saviour’s side wearing the glorious crown of a martyr. Charlie loved life. He loved his life. He loved America. He loved nature, which helped him always bring him closer to God. He loved the Chicago Cubs and, my goodness, did he love Oregon Ducks. He would want me to say, Go Ducks! so I have to since they play on Saturday, so Go Ducks!
But most of all, Charlie loved his children and he loved me with all of his heart and I knew that every day. I knew that he made sure I knew that every day. Every day he would ask me, how can I serve you better? How can I be a better husband? How can I be a better father? Every day, every day. Such a good man. He still is a good man. He was the perfect father. He was the perfect husband.
Charlie always believed that God’s design for marriage in the family was absolutely amazing. And it is, it is… And it was that greatest joy of his life. And over and over he would tell all these young people to come in, find their future spouse, become wives and husbands and parents. And the reason why is because he wanted you all to experience what he had and still has. He wanted everyone to bring Heaven into this Earth through love and joy that comes from raising a family. It’s beautiful.
Charlie always said that if he ever ran for office – I know a lot of you ask if you ever was going to, but privately he told me – if he ever did run for office, at his top priority would be to revive the American family. That was his priority. One of Charlie’s favourite Bible verses was Ephesians 5, Verse 25: Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her.
My husband laid down his life for me, for our nation, for our children. He showed the ultimate and true covenantal love. I will never, ever have words to describe the loss that I feel in my heart. I honestly have no idea what any of this means. I know that God does, but I don’t.
But Charlie, baby, I know you do too.
And our world is filled with evil. But our God, you guys, our God is so good. So incredibly good. We know that for those who love God, all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose.
Already I have seen the worldwide outpouring of love for my husband. I’ve heard testimonies from people my husband inspired to get married and start families, to seek out a relationship with God. Is the most important. The most important one of all.
The evil doers responsible for my husband’s assassination have no idea what they have done.
They killed Charlie because he preached a message of patriotism, faith, and of God’s merciful love.
They should all know this: If you thought that my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea. You have no idea what you just unleashed across the entire country, in this world. You have no idea. You have no idea the fire that you ignited within this wife.
The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.
To everyone listening tonight across America, the movement my husband built will not die. It won’t. I refuse to let that happen. It will not die. All of us will refuse to let that happen. No one will ever forget my husband’s name and I will make sure of it. It will become stronger, bolder, louder, greater than ever.
My husband’s mission will not end, not even for a moment. And one of Charlie’s greatest talents was his ability – this phenomenal ability to choose great people to follow him. He could always find the ones who could handle any setback. And it’s almost like he knew, he could see it in you. Even when you could not see it in yourself, he just knew. He knew you could handle it. You thought you only had 5 per cent left and he knew you had 15. He knew you were ready to go that extra mile, even when you didn’t.
He always challenged people around him to work harder and to be better. He never gave up. And I love knowing that one of his mottos was, ’Never surrender!’ So I want to tell you that we will never surrender. We never will. Ever. Ever…
Our campus tour this fall will continue.
There will be even more tours in the years to come.
The radio and podcast show that he was so proud of will go on.
And in a world filled with chaos, doubt, and uncertainty, my husband’s voice will remain. And it will ring out louder and more clearly than ever, and his wisdom will endure.
My husband’s favourite word in the English language was, ‘earn’.
He would call all of you to be people of action who earn the future America deserves.
So to all of the young people who felt inspired by my husband’s faith and hard work, all of you already know what Charlie would want you to do. You know. You know.
If you are in high school or you are in college, go find your local Turning Point USA chapter. Join it. Stay involved. He wants you to make a difference, and you can. The movement’s not going anywhere, and it will only grow stronger when you join it.
If there isn’t a chapter – you can’t find one – then start one. There is no excuse. You can start one.
And as my husband used to say in this room, every single day, if you want to get involved, the best way you can do that is to go to TPUSA.com
Every single day.
[ … ]
If you are not a member of a church, I beg you to join one. A Bible-believing church. Our battle is not simply a political one, it is spiritual. Spiritual warfare is palpable.
Charlie loved his saviour with all his heart and he wanted every one of you to know him too. He wanted everyone to know that if they confess to the Lord Jesus Christ who rose from the dead then they would be saved.
Hear me when I say this, nobody is ever too young to know the Gospel. Nobody. Nobody is ever too young to get involved with saving this country. The country my husband loved and still loves. And nobody is ever too old either. There is no age limit.
I know my husband is still here. He is watching over us. I don’t remember the last time I slept. I couldn’t sleep last night. And … Charlie, baby. Charlie, I promise I will never let your legacy die, baby. I won’t. I promise I’ll make Turning Point USA the biggest thing that this nation has ever seen. I promise. Charlie, I love you. I love you, baby. Rest in the arms of our Lord as he blankets you with the words I know your heart always strived to hear: well done, my good and faithful servant.
When I got home last night, Gigi, our daughter, just ran into my arms and I talked to her and she said, ‘Mummy, I missed you.’ I said, ‘I miss you too, baby.’ She goes, ‘Where’s daddy?’ What do you tell a three-year-old? She’s three. 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.’ And my goodness am I so humbled to witness Charlie you alongside Jesus right now, doing what you always wanted to do, making Heaven crowded. That’s what it’s about. I can’t wait to see you again one day.
Thank you all, again, who loved my husband.
