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Erika Kirk is paying tribute to her late husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, on the first anniversary of his death.
Erika, 36, marked the solemn anniversary on Thursday, September 10, by sharing a black-and-white photo of her and Charlie holding hands on their wedding day, along with the caption: “… Until heaven.”
The Turning Point USA cofounder was taking part in a campus discussion at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah, when he was fatally shot. (Charlie was 31 at the time of his death. He was survived by wife Erika and two children.)
Utah police arrested Tyler James Robinson, now 23, in connection with the shooting the following day and he was subsequently charged with aggravated murder and six other charges. (Robinson has pleaded not guilty.)
Erika broke her silence about Charlie’s killing on September 12, 2025, when she took part in a social media memorial.
“Charlie loved life. He loved his life, he loved America, he loved nature which always helped him closer to God,” Erika said in a livestream. “He loved the Chicago Cubs and my goodness did he love the Oregon Ducks.”
She went on to say, “Most of all Charlie loved his children and he loved me with all of his heart and I knew that everyday. He made sure I knew that everyday. Everyday he would ask me, ‘How can I serve you better? How can I be a better husband? How can I be a better father?’ … He was a such a good man. He still is such a good man. He was the perfect father. He was the perfect husband.”
Erika was named the chairwoman and CEO of her spouse’s advocacy group, Turning Point USA, following the controversial pundit’s death.
On September 21, 2025, many prominent conservatives, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, attended a public memorial for Charlie at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix. During her eulogy, Erika said that she had forgiven her husband’s alleged killer.
“I forgive him because it is what Christ did,” Erika told mourners at the ceremony. “The answer to hate is not hate.”
Erika has since marked many notable milestones without Charlie, including what would have been their fifth wedding anniversary in May and Father’s Day in June. She took a lead role in organizing Turning Point USA’s alternative Super Bowl Halftime Show in February, which she dedicated to her late spouse’s memory.
More recently, Erika joined Charlie’s family in praising Utah State District Judge Tony Graf’s decision to send alleged killer Robinson’s case to trial in August as “an important step in our family’s pursuit of justice for him.” (Robinson could face the death penalty if he is convicted on the aggravated murder charge.)
“Every step in this process carries the weight of all that Charlie’s murder has taken from his family, especially his children who will grow up without their father,” the Kirk family told Us in a statement. “We are grateful to all who have continued to pray for us, support us, and stand with us through a year of unimaginable grief.”
Their statement continued, “As the next phase of the judicial process begins, our family remains united in our love for Charlie, our commitment to the pursuit of justice, and our prayer for a transparent and timely process.”
Robinson is scheduled to return to court on October 23 for possible scheduling of his trial.
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