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On Thursday night, Erika Kirk addressed a crowd of University of Mississippi students.
Before bringing Vice President JD Vance on stage, the CEO of Turning Point USA spoke about her feelings seven weeks after the murder of her husband, Charlie Kirk.
“You have no idea how helpful it is to have all of you in my life… you make me feel even more connected to my husband,” Erika told the crowd at one point, adding:
“He didn’t leave us empty-handed. He built a machine. And you’re all a part of that.”
Erika Kirk takes the stage with JD Vance
After a nearly hour-long speech, Kirk introduced Vance. And his comments about the vice president have received quite a bit of criticism.
“When our team asked my dear friend, Vice President JD Vance, to speak today, I really prayed because obviously it’s a very, very emotional day,” Kirk said.
“But I could hear Charlie in my heart. I could hear him say, ‘Go claim that territory, baby.’ The battle is already won. God’s love wins. And that’s why I’m here today.”
Kirk went on to say that while no one could “replace” her husband, she saw important “similarities” between Charlie and Vance.
For his part, Vance praised Kirk for his political skills and noted that the podcast host urged the Trump administration not to attack nuclear sites in Iran.
Trump did it, but Vance claims Charlie was glad when the plan worked.
“I truly believe that one of the reasons the president of the United States destroyed Iranian nuclear facilities but never engaged the United States in a protracted military conflict and never lost a single American in a Middle East conflict is because we had the wisdom and good sense to recognize that the American people are tired of American troops dying in unnecessary foreign conflicts… but Charlie Kirk reminded me of that.” Van said.
The crowd responded with chants of “48,” a clear endorsement of Vance as Donald Trump’s successor in the White House.
There was a wide range of criticism of the Kirk-Vance event, with some arguing that it is inappropriate for Erika to compare her late husband to another man, and others complaining about the continued politicization of Charlie Kirk’s death by those seeking to gain office.
“Publicly joking with another man a month after her husband’s murder. The American values MAGA wants to preserve,” wrote a user.
“This is sickening…it’s only been a month since Charlie passed away.” another tweetedalong with a photo of Kirk and Vance embracing on stage.
“Starting with ‘no one can replace my husband… but JD Vance’ is a very deliberate choice,” a third party intervened.
“No one will ever replace her husband, although she seems to be trying very hard.” a fourth commented.
Neither Vance nor Kirk have publicly responded to criticism about their onstage interaction.
