Erika Kirk, the widow of the slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, vowed in a primetime address Friday that her husband’s mission will only grow stronger.
“The evildoers 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,” she said, “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 have unleashed across this entire country. In this world.”
She spoke for just under 18 minutes from the studio where Kirk conducted his weekday podcast, in front of a podium with a picture of Charlie Kirk which said above it, “May Charlie be received into the merciful arms of our loving savior.”
“You have no idea the fire that you have ignited within this wife,” she said. “The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.”
Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated Wednesday while speaking on the campus of Utah Valley University. He was 31. A suspect was apprehended early Friday.
She gave thanks to Vice President JD Vance, whom she called a close friend of her husband’s, and Vance’s wife Usha. She said Charlie Kirk knew President Donald Trump loved him, and that he loved the president back.
And she expressed the love that she and her husband had for each other.
Kirk’s widow said that she would never let his movement fade.
“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,” she said.
She thanked the law enforcement for catching his killer and the first responders who attempted to save his life.
She also talked at length about her husband’s Christian faith and his desire to inspire young people to be involved in politics.
“Nobody is ever too young to know the Gospel. Nobody. Nobody is ever too young to get involved with saving this beautiful country, this country my husband loved and still loves, and nobody is ever too old either,” she said. “There’s no age limit.”
She called for people to join a Bible-believing church, and join, or even start, a TPUSA chapter.
“He never gave up and I love knowing that one of his mottos was, ‘never surrender,’” she said. “So I want to tell you that we’ll never surrender. We never will, ever. Our campus tour this fall will continue. There will be even more tours in the years to come.”
She added that America Fest is happening in December in Phoenix, the base of Turning Point USA. She also said her late husband’s radio and podcast show would go on.
“My husband’s favorite word in the English language was ‘earned,’” she said. “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 in hard work, all of you already know what Charlie would want you to do.”
She pledged to make Turning Point USA “the biggest thing that this nation has ever seen.”
“Charlie always said that when he was gone, 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 blood and savior, Jesus Christ,” she said. “Now, and for all eternity, he will stand at his Savior’s side, wearing the glorious crown of a martyr.”
