Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, has shared details about an ‘inappropriate’ hug she shared with JD Vance during an onstage event.
Erika came into the public eye after her husband, Charlie Kirk, a political activist, was fatally shot while addressing a campus gathering in Utah on September 10.
Charlie Kirk, known for establishing the far-right organization Turning Point USA, was recognized for his strong opinions on issues such as immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, women’s reproductive rights, and gun violence.
After his passing, Turning Point USA organized a large memorial service with speeches from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, placing Erika at the forefront of the occasion.
An event at the University of Mississippi in Kirk’s memory gained widespread attention due to a viral moment.
Erika and Vance shared an extended and awkward embrace on stage, which some criticized as ‘inappropriate’ because she placed her hand on the back of his head.
Subsequently, Erika appeared in an onstage interview with Megyn Kelly, where she revealed the conversation with the vice president and explained the lengthy hug.
“My love language is touch, if you will … So I will give you a play-by-play,” she explained at the Megyn Kelly Live event on Saturday (November 22), continuing: “They just played the emotional video. I’m walking over, he’s walking over. I’m starting to cry.”
Erika disclosed what Vance said to her: “He says, ‘I’m so proud of you.’ And I say, ‘God bless you,’ and I touch the back of his head.”
She further commented: “Anyone whom I have hugged that I have touched the back of your head when I hug you, I always say, God bless you.”
Addressing the attention the moment garnered, Kelly joked: “They were acting like you touched the back of his a**!”
Erika humorously responded: “I feel like I wouldn’t get as much hate if I did that!”
During his address to approximately 60,000 supporters, Vance honored both Charlie Kirk and Erika, describing her as a ‘woman of God’.
“Charlie was so proud of Erika and the two kids. He was so happy to be a father,” Vance stated. “And he felt such gratitude for having found a woman of God with whom he could build a family.”
In the aftermath of her husband’s death, Erika has assumed the role of CEO at Turning Point USA.