Erika Kirk’s Powerful Tribute to Her Late Husband: A Legacy of Faith and Forgiveness
At a memorial service for slain Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, his widow Erika delivered a moving speech that revealed both the depths of their love and the strength of her faith. Speaking before a crowd gathered at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Erika began by quoting one of Charlie’s favorite Bible verses, Isaiah 6:8: “Here I am, Lord. Send me.” She recalled warning him about the power of those words, saying, “When you say something like that, there is so much power in that verse… God will take you up on that, and He did.” Her reflections offered an intimate glimpse into their relationship while demonstrating remarkable grace toward the young man charged with her husband’s assassination on September 10 at Utah Valley University.
In a moment of profound compassion, Erika extended forgiveness to 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, the suspect charged in Charlie’s death. “Charlie wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,” she said, connecting her husband’s life mission to the very person who ended it. Drawing from her Christian faith, she continued, “Our Savior said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they not know what they do.’ That young man… I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it’s what Charlie would do.” This extraordinary gesture of mercy stood in stark contrast to the violence that claimed her husband’s life, revealing the depth of her commitment to the values they shared.
Erika courageously described the moment she viewed her husband’s body in the hospital, sharing both her anguish and the unexpected comfort she found. “I look(ed) directly at my husband’s murdered body,” she said. “I saw the wound that ended his life. I felt shock. I felt horror and a level of heartache that I didn’t even know existed.” Yet amid this profound grief, she noticed touching details—”the one single gray hair on the side of his head, which I never told him about,” she added with a gentle laugh. Most significantly, she observed “the faintest smile” on his lips, which reassured her that “Charlie didn’t suffer” and that his passing had been instant. This perception of mercy in the midst of tragedy clearly provided her with a measure of peace.
The memorial also revealed the tender foundations of Charlie and Erika’s marriage through simple yet meaningful rituals they maintained despite his demanding schedule. “Our little secret: It was love notes,” she disclosed. “Every Saturday, Charlie wrote one for me, and he never missed a Saturday.” She explained that in each note, he would share his highlight of the week, express gratitude for her and their children, and invariably close with the question, “Please let me know how I can better serve you as a husband.” This glimpse into their private life illuminated the intentional way they nurtured their relationship and Charlie’s commitment to being present for his family despite his public responsibilities. Erika also reflected on Charlie’s spiritual disciplines, including his journaling practice, quoting his insight that “Every time you make a decision, it puts a mark on your soul.”
Beyond their personal bond, Erika emphasized how fully Charlie lived his convictions. “Charlie died with incomplete work, but not with unfinished business,” she observed. “There was nothing that was too hard or too painful or nothing that he just felt like he didn’t want to do.” This complete engagement with life and purpose meant he departed “without regrets,” even as she acknowledged the profound loss his absence represents: “I will miss him so much. Because our marriage and our family were beautiful.” Her words painted a portrait of a man who lived with intention and clarity about his values, both in public and in private life.
As the newly appointed CEO of Turning Point USA, Erika concluded her tribute by committing herself to carrying forward her husband’s vision with even greater determination. “Everything that Turning Point USA built through Charlie’s vision and hard work, we will make ten times greater through the power of his memory,” she declared with resolve. In a statement of defiance and purpose, she added, “No assassin will ever stop us from standing up to defend those rights.” Her promise transformed the memorial from solely a moment of mourning into a declaration of continued mission, ensuring that Charlie Kirk’s work would not end with his life but would instead gain new momentum through the dedication of those who shared his values and vision—led by the woman who knew him best and loved him most.
