ERIKA KIRK: 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’s life and the police who acted bravely to make sure that there were no other victims on that terrible afternoon. I want to thank the officers who have protected our Turning Point USA family these past two days and I want to thank the Turning Point USA board, the 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. My heart is with every one of my husband’s employees who lost a friend and a mentor.
I want to thank the staffers of this, his amazing Charlie Kirk show who helped him broadcast from this studio, this, this chair. Every day, he loved what he did. I want to thank the 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 honored 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 and 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 savior and his God. Charlie always said that when he was gone, he, he wanted to be remembered for his courage and for his faith. And one of the final conversations that he had on this earth, my husband witnessed for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Now and for all eternity, he will stand at his Savior’s side, wearing the glorious crown of a martyr.
Charlie loved, 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 the Oregon Ducks? 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. He’s 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 the greatest joy of his life. And over and over, he would tell all these young people to come and 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 asked if he ever was going to, but privately, he told me if he ever did run for office, that his top priority would be to revive the American family. That was his priority. One of Charlie’s favorite 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 the 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. So does our Lord. And our world is filled with evil. But our God, you guys, our God is so good, so incredibly good. And 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 the testimonies from people my husband inspired to get married, to start families, to seek God. Our battle is not simply a political one—the spiritual warfare is palpable.
They killed Charlie because he preached a message of patriotism, faith, and of God’s love. The evil-doers responsible for my husband’s assassination have no idea what they have unleashed. They should all know this: If you thought my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea. You have no idea what you have unleashed across this country and this world. You have no idea the fire that you have ignited within this wife. The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.
His movement will go on. I promise I’ll make Turning Point USA the biggest thing that this nation has ever seen. His campus tour will continue, more tours will come, and his radio and podcast show will go on. Charlie will not have died in vain—his message will only be amplified. We will fight for truth, for freedom, for a safer America. God bless you all.