On September 10, 2025, Erika’s husband was assassinated while speaking at [[Utah Valley University]], a stop of his American Comeback tour.<ref>{{cite news |last=Turnbull|first=Tiffanie|date=September 12, 2025|title=Charlie Kirk shooting: What we know about death of close Trump ally|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy04p4x21e5o|access-date=September 10, 2025 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Charlie Kirk: Trump ally shot dead at campus event in Utah|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c206zm81z4gt?post=asset%3Ac0251c3a-1ff7-4d57-8c3b-b124a011e280#post|access-date=September 10, 2025|work=BBC News|archive-date=September 11, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250911134414/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c206zm81z4gt?post=asset:c0251c3a-1ff7-4d57-8c3b-b124a011e280#post|url-status=live}}</ref> She subsequently gave a widely reported address from TPUSA headquarters,<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldberg|first=Emma|title=Grieving in Public, Erika Kirk Melds the Personal and Political|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/13/style/erika-kirk-charlie-kirk-marriage.html|work=The New York Times|date=September 13, 2025|access-date=September 16, 2025|archive-date=September 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250916205716/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/13/style/erika-kirk-charlie-kirk-marriage.html|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Saad|first1=Nardine|last2=Matza|first2=Max|title=”I will never let your legacy die” – Charlie Kirk’s widow gives tearful address after shooting|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9je8lxge4o|work=BBC News|date=September 13, 2025|access-date=September 16, 2025|archive-date=September 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250916101830/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9je8lxge4o|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=”Sarnoff & Kindelan 2025″>{{Cite news |last1=Sarnoff |first1=Leah |last2=Kindelan |first2=Katie |date=September 14, 2025 |title=Erika Kirk delivers emotional remarks to the nation after killing of husband Charlie Kirk |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/charlie-kirks-widow-erika-set-deliver-1st-public/story?id=125528319 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/0pzJh |archive-date=September 18, 2025 |access-date=September 18, 2025 |work=ABC News}}</ref> pledging to carry on her husband’s activities.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Saad |first1=Nardine |last2=Matza |first2=Max |date=September 13, 2025 |title=Erika Kirk pledges ‘my husband’s voice will remain’ in tribute to Charlie Kirk |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9je8lxge4o |access-date=September 18, 2025 |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250917225407/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9je8lxge4o |archive-date=September 17, 2025}}</ref> On September 18, it was announced that she had been named CEO of TPUSA.<ref name=”Williams 2025″/>
On September 10, 2025, Erika’s husband was assassinated while speaking at [[Utah Valley University]], a stop of his American Comeback tour.<ref>{{cite news |last=Turnbull|first=Tiffanie|date=September 12, 2025|title=Charlie Kirk shooting: What we know about death of close Trump ally|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy04p4x21e5o|access-date=September 10, 2025 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Charlie Kirk: Trump ally shot dead at campus event in Utah|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c206zm81z4gt?post=asset%3Ac0251c3a-1ff7-4d57-8c3b-b124a011e280#post|access-date=September 10, 2025|work=BBC News|archive-date=September 11, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250911134414/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c206zm81z4gt?post=asset:c0251c3a-1ff7-4d57-8c3b-b124a011e280#post|url-status=live}}</ref> She subsequently gave a widely reported address from TPUSA headquarters,<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldberg|first=Emma|title=Grieving in Public, Erika Kirk Melds the Personal and Political|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/13/style/erika-kirk-charlie-kirk-marriage.html|work=The New York Times|date=September 13, 2025|access-date=September 16, 2025|archive-date=September 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250916205716/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/13/style/erika-kirk-charlie-kirk-marriage.html|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Saad|first1=Nardine|last2=Matza|first2=Max|title=”I will never let your legacy die” – Charlie Kirk’s widow gives tearful address after shooting|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9je8lxge4o|work=BBC News|date=September 13, 2025|access-date=September 16, 2025|archive-date=September 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250916101830/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9je8lxge4o|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=”Sarnoff & Kindelan 2025″>{{Cite news |last1=Sarnoff |first1=Leah |last2=Kindelan |first2=Katie |date=September 14, 2025 |title=Erika Kirk delivers emotional remarks to the nation after killing of husband Charlie Kirk |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/charlie-kirks-widow-erika-set-deliver-1st-public/story?id=125528319 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/0pzJh |archive-date=September 18, 2025 |access-date=September 18, 2025 |work=ABC News}}</ref> pledging to carry on her husband’s activities.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Saad |first1=Nardine |last2=Matza |first2=Max |date=September 13, 2025 |title=Erika Kirk pledges ‘my husband’s voice will remain’ in tribute to Charlie Kirk |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9je8lxge4o |access-date=September 18, 2025 |work=BBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250917225407/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9je8lxge4o |archive-date=September 17, 2025}}</ref> On September 18, it was announced that she had been named CEO of TPUSA.<ref name=”Williams 2025″/>
In an interview with ”[[The New York Times]]”, Erika explained how she pushed to see Kirk’s body against advice from law enforcement. She reportedly told authorities, “With all due respect, I want to see what they did to my husband,” before kissing him goodbye. She said he looked like he died happy with a “[[Mona Lisa]]-like half-smile”.<ref name=”Draper 2025″/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Coffey-Behrens |first=Kelly |date=September 21, 2025 |title=Erika Kirk Shares Haunting Details Of Charlie Kirk’s Last Moments In Hospital |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/erika-kirk-shares-haunting-details-173014670.html |access-date=September 22, 2025 |website=BLAST News }}</ref> A [[Memorial service of Charlie Kirk|memorial service for Charlie]] was held on September 21 at [[State Farm Stadium]] in Glendale, Arizona.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Sarah |last2=Levinson-King |first2=Robin |date=September 21, 2025 |title=Trump hails Charlie Kirk as martyr to thousands at memorial service |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgee0x9p40o |access-date=September 22, 2025 |work=BBC News}}</ref> The service was attended by over 90,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Macias |first=Amanda |date=September 21, 2025 |title=Charlie Kirk honored by 90K in one of the largest memorials for a private citizen |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/charlie-kirk-honored-90k-one-largest-memorials-private-citizen |access-date=September 22, 2025 |website=Fox News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Charlie Kirk memorial service: Police estimate over 90,000 in attendance |url=https://www.azcentral.com/live-story/news/politics/arizona/2025/09/21/charlie-kirk-memorial-service-live-coverage/86186558007/ |access-date=September 22, 2025 |work=The Arizona Republic |date=September 21, 2025 |quote=About 90,000 to 100,000 people were in attendance for Charlie Kirk’s memorial, according to a Glendale police estimate.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2025 |title=Charlie Kirk Memorial: Erika, Trump to pay tribute—Watch Live |url=https://www.newsweek.com/charlie-kirk-funeral-memorial-service-live-updates-2133299 |access-date=September 22, 2025 |website=Newsweek }}</ref> Prominent figures in attendance included President [[Donald Trump]] and Vice President [[JD Vance]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yang |first1=Maya |last2=Lawther |first2=Fran |date=September 21, 2025 |title=Charlie Kirk funeral and memorial: time, updates from Arizona – live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/sep/21/charlie-kirk-funeral-memorial-time-updates-arizona?page=with:block-68d01b8d8f0816a4522bf43b |access-date=September 21, 2025 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> as well as Erika herself, who publicly forgave her husband’s killer.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gambino |first=Lauren |date=September 22, 2025 | title=Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, says she forgives man accused of murder |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/sep/21/charlie-kirk-funeral-memorial-time-updates-arizona?page=with:block-68d01b8d8f0816a4522bf43b |access-date=September 22, 2025 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>
In an interview with ”[[The New York Times]]”, Erika explained how she pushed to see Kirk’s body against advice from law enforcement. She reportedly told authorities, “With all due respect, I want to see what they did to my husband,” before kissing him goodbye. She said he looked like he died happy with a “[[Mona Lisa]]-like half-smile”.<ref name=”Draper 2025″/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Coffey-Behrens |first=Kelly |date=September 21, 2025 |title=Erika Kirk Shares Haunting Details Of Charlie Kirk’s Last Moments In Hospital |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/erika-kirk-shares-haunting-details-173014670.html |access-date=September 22, 2025 |website=BLAST News }}</ref> A [[Memorial service of Charlie Kirk|memorial service for Charlie]] was held on September 21 at [[State Farm Stadium]] in Glendale, Arizona.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Sarah |last2=Levinson-King |first2=Robin |date=September 21, 2025 |title=Trump hails Charlie Kirk as martyr to thousands at memorial service |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgee0x9p40o |access-date=September 22, 2025 |work=BBC News}}</ref> The service was attended by over 90,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Macias |first=Amanda |date=September 21, 2025 |title=Charlie Kirk honored by 90K in one of the largest memorials for a private citizen |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/charlie-kirk-honored-90k-one-largest-memorials-private-citizen |access-date=September 22, 2025 |website=Fox News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Charlie Kirk memorial service: Police estimate over 90,000 in attendance |url=https://www.azcentral.com/live-story/news/politics/arizona/2025/09/21/charlie-kirk-memorial-service-live-coverage/86186558007/ |access-date=September 22, 2025 |work=The Arizona Republic |date=September 21, 2025 |quote=About 90,000 to 100,000 people were in attendance for Charlie Kirk’s memorial, according to a Glendale police estimate.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2025 |title=Charlie Kirk Memorial: Erika, Trump to pay tribute—Watch Live |url=https://www.newsweek.com/charlie-kirk-funeral-memorial-service-live-updates-2133299 |access-date=September 22, 2025 |website=Newsweek }}</ref> Prominent figures in attendance included President [[Donald Trump]] and Vice President [[JD Vance]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yang |first1=Maya |last2=Lawther |first2=Fran |date=September 21, 2025 |title=Charlie Kirk funeral and memorial: time, updates from Arizona – live |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/sep/21/charlie-kirk-funeral-memorial-time-updates-arizona?page=with:block-68d01b8d8f0816a4522bf43b |access-date=September 21, 2025 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> as well as Erika herself, who publicly forgave her husband’s killer.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gambino |first=Lauren |date=September 22, 2025 | title=Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, says she forgives man accused of murder |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/sep/21/charlie-kirk-funeral-memorial-time-updates-arizona?page=with:block-68d01b8d8f0816a4522bf43b |access-date=September 22, 2025 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>
