Erika Kirk, wife of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk made her first public address since her husband’s assassination on Friday evening and promised to continue the political movement her husband started.
Speaking from the same studio that was used by Charlie, Erika addressed an online audience of around 200,000 viewers just after 8:25pm.
During an emotional speech she called on Kirk’s followers to become members of a church before making a vow to her late husband.
‘Charlie, I promise I will never let your legacy die, baby,’ she said. ‘I promise I’ll make Turning Point USA the biggest thing that this nation has ever seen.’
Her address came only hours after the man alleged to have shot and killed her husband was identified and arrested.
Wiping away tears, Erika Kirk thanked President Donald Trump and his family for their support after the shooting.
‘Mr President, my husband loved you. And he knew that you loved him too. He did. Your friendship was amazing. You supported him so well, as did he for you,’ she said.
She also thanked Vice-President JD Vance and his wife Usha for ‘bringing him home’.
Erika Kirk, wife of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk made her first public address since her husband’s assassination on Friday evening
Vice President JD Vance, right, Second Lady Usha Vance, center, and Erika Kirk, holding a cross on a chain, deplane Air Force Two, carrying the body of Charlie Kirk, on Thursday
Erika Kirk, wife of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, made her first public address since her husband’s assassination on Friday evening
Erika began her 15 minute long address after making a silent prayer.
Overcome with emotion, she thanked employees of Turning Point USA – which her husband co-founded.
‘My heart is with everyone of my husband’s employees who lost a friend and a mentor,’ she says. ‘He loved what he did.’
Charlie Kirk’s death is being treated as a political assassination.
She thanked law enforcement and the ‘first responders who struggled heroically to save Charles’ life, and the police who acted bravely to ensure there were no other victims on that terrible afternoon’.
A photo of Kirk could be seen displayed on her podium, with the caption: ‘May Charlie be received into the merciful arms of Jesus, our loving savior.’
‘Charlie said if he ever ran for office, his top priority would be to revive the American family. That was his priority,’ Erika Kirk said.
‘Charlie loved life. He loved his life. He loved America,’ she added before describing some of her husband’s hobbies, and his favourite sports teams.
‘Go ducks,’ she said with a smile, referring to the Oregon University sports team, adding that he would want her to say that because they play this weekend.
‘But most of all, Charlie loved his children. And he loved me. With all his heart. And he made sure I knew that everyday.’
She went on to call him a ‘perfect’ father, weeping throughout her comments.
Wearing a cross necklace she focused on her Christian faith quoting as verse from the Bible.
‘Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.’ She praised God and said he is ‘incredibly good’.
Erika had last been seen on Thursday when her husband’s casket arrived in his home state of Arizona aboard Air Force Two as Vice President JD Vance honored the conservative activist with a final flight.
Vance’s wife, Usha, stepped off the plane alongside Erika. Both women wore black and sunglasses while the vice president was a few steps behind in a dark suit.
Vance helped carry Kirk’s casket with a group of uniformed service members as it was loaded onto the plane.
Tyler James Robinson, 22, of Washington, Utah, was arrested in connection to Kirk’s killing
Tyler James Robinson, 22, of Washington, Utah, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily harm, and obstruction of justice, all felonies, according to a probable cause statement filed in court and released Friday. A judge ordered that he be held without bail.
Robinson is registered to vote but is not affiliated with a political party, according to Utah state records.
He was also listed as inactive, meaning he had not voted in at least the last two general elections.
State and federal court records do not show any prior criminal cases involving him.
His listed address in the probable cause statement is the six-bedroom home of his parents, who own a granite countertop business and are registered to vote as Republicans.
The break in the case came after a family member of Robinson reached out to a family friend with information that Robinson had ‘confessed’ or implied involvement in the shooting, Utah Governor Spencer Cox told reporters on Friday, shortly after Robinson was taken into custody.
Cox said it is believed that Robinson acted alone. Family members said Robinson ‘had become more political in recent years,’ Cox said, describing a recent family dinner in which Robinson mentioned that Kirk planned to speak at UVU.
‘They talked about why they didn´t like him and the viewpoints that he had,’ Cox said, referring to Robinson and an unnamed family member. ‘The family member also stated Kirk was full of hate and spreading hate.’
