The wife of Charlie Kirk has spoken publicly for the first time since his murder on Wednesday, addressing his online followers through tears and promising to continue his political message.
“If you thought that my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea what you have just unleashed across this entire country and this world,” said Erika Kirk, 36, from her husband’s podcast studio, broadcast live across his social media accounts on Friday night.
“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… The movement my husband built will not die.”
Erika Kirk kneels over the open coffin containing her husband’s body
Kirk, 31, an ally of President Trump and conservative activist, was killed at a speaking event at Utah Valley University with a single gunshot.
The coffin carrying his body was flown on Air Force Two on Thursday evening to his home in Arizona, escorted by vice president JD Vance, his wife, Usha, alongside Kirk’s wife, their two young children and his parents.
• Who is Charlie Kirk’s suspected assassin Tyler Robinson
Erika, a former Miss Arizona USA, spoke publicly for the first time about her husband’s death on Friday.
Erika, with JD Vance and his wife Usha, leaving AIr Force Two carrying Charlie Kirk’s body to Arizona on Thursday
THOMAS MACHOWICZ/REUTERS
She said that he was the “perfect father” to their three-year-old daughter and one-year-old son, and a “perfect husband”.
“Privately he told me if he ever did run for office his top priority would be to revive the American family,” she said, speaking through tears and often laying her hand on his chair and his desk in his studio. The bookshelves behind appeared to show a framed photograph of President Donald Trump.
“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.”
Charlie Kirk and his wife Erika at a Turning Point USA event in Washington DC in January
SAMUEL CORUM/GETTY IMAGES
She continued: “The people responsible for his assassination have no idea what they have done … No one will ever forget my husband’s name and I will make sure of it. It will become stronger, bolder, louder and greater than ever. My husband’s mission will not end.”
• How the Charlie Kirk shooting unfolded
After continued appeal from the FBI for information, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson handed himself into a police station in St George, Utah, at 11pm on Thursday local time.
Robinson, an electrical apprentice at a St George technical college, was booked into Utah county jail early on Friday morning, facing charges of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice.
Charlie and Erika Kirk in front of a portrait of the former US president, Ronald Reagan
According to Utah governor, Spencer Cox, the suspect confessed to shooting Kirk. He is expected in court on Tuesday.
Investigators said they found inscriptions on bullets collected as evidence, including “Hey fascist! Catch!” and “oh bella ciao, oh bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao”, referencing the Italian folk song associated with anti-fascism.
Erika encouraged young people to join their local chapter of Turning Point USA, Kirk’s conservative campaign group which activated mainly college-age young people to vote, and pledged to continue the speaking tour Kirk was on when he was shot.
The couple on stage at the Young Women’s Leadership Summit in Texas in June
SHELBY TAUBER FOR THE TIMES
“The movement’s not going anywhere and it will only grow stronger when you join it,” she said. “Our battle is spiritual. The spiritual warfare is palpable.”
She added: “Charlie, I promise, I will never let your legacy die, baby. I won’t. I promise, I’ll make Turning Point USA the biggest thing that this nation has ever seen.”
Erika also thanked her husband’s “dear friend” Vance and his “phenomenal” wife. She also paid tribute to President Trump, adding: “Mr President, my husband loved you and he knew that you loved him too. He did.”
Trump told reporters that the funeral was planned for next week and that he planned to attend.