Studying Time: 3 minutes
On Thursday evening, Erika Kirk addressed a crowd of scholars on the College of Mississippi.
Earlier than bringing Vice President J.D. Vance onto the stage, the Turning Level USA CEO opened up about her emotions seven weeks after the homicide of her husband, Charlie Kirk.
“You guys do not know how useful it’s to have all of you in my life … you make me really feel much more linked to my husband,” Erika informed the gang at one level, including:
Erika Kirk, widow of Turning Level USA founder Charlie Kirk, speaks throughout a Turning Level USA occasion the place U.S. Vice President JD Vance is anticipated, on the Pavilion at Ole Miss on the College of Mississippi, on October 29, 2025 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Picture by Jonathan Ernst-Pool/Getty Photographs)“He didn’t go away us empty-handed. He constructed a machine. And all of you’re part of that.”
Erika Kirk takes the stage with J.D. Vance
After a speech of practically an hour, Kirk launched Vance. And her feedback in regards to the vice chairman have acquired a good quantity of criticism.
“When our group requested my pricey good friend, Vice President JD Vance, to talk right now, I actually prayed on it as a result of, clearly, it’s a really emotional, emotional day,” Kirk mentioned.
“However I may simply hear Charlie in my coronary heart. I may simply hear him say, ‘Go reclaim that territory, babe.’ The battle’s already received. God’s love conquers. And that’s why I’m right here right now.’”
Kirk went on to say that whereas nobody may “substitute” her husband, she noticed vital “similarities” between Charlie and Vance.
US Vice President JD Vance (R) greets Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, throughout a Turning Level USA occasion on the College of Mississippi, in Oxford, Mississippi, October 29, 2025. (Picture by JONATHAN ERNST/POOL/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)For his half, Vance praised Kirk for his political capability, noting that the podcast host urged the Trump administration to not strike nuclear websites in Iran.
Trump did so, however Vance claims that Charlie was happy when the plan labored out.
“I actually consider that one of many the explanation why the president of the US knocked out the Iranian nuclear services, however by no means acquired the US right into a protracted navy battle and by no means misplaced a single American in a Center Jap battle is as a result of we had the knowledge and the nice sense to acknowledge that the American persons are finished with American troops dying in pointless overseas conflicts … however Charlie Kirk jogged my memory of that,” Vance mentioned.
The gang responded with chants of “48,” a transparent endorsement of Vance as Donald Trump’s successor within the White Home.
Erika Kirk, widow of Turning Level USA founder Charlie Kirk, speaks throughout a Turning Level USA occasion the place U.S. Vice President JD Vance is anticipated, on the Pavilion at Ole Miss on the College of Mississippi, on October 29, 2025 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Picture by Jonathan Ernst-Pool/Getty Photographs)There was all kinds of criticism of the Kirk-Vance occasion, with some arguing that it’s inappropriate for Erika to check her late husband to a different man, and others complaining in regards to the continued politicization of Charlie Kirk’s demise from those that search to achieve workplace.
“Publicly simping over one other man one month after husband’s homicide. The American values MAGA desires to protect,” wrote one X consumer.
“That is sick… it’s been barely a month since Charlie handed,” one other tweeted, alongside a photograph of Kirk and Vance embracing on stage.
“Beginning with ‘nobody can ever substitute my husband… however JD Vance’ is a really deliberate selection,” a 3rd chimed in.
“Nobody will ever substitute her husband, although she appears to be giving it a strong attempt,” a fourth remarked.
Neither Vance nor Kirk has publicly responded to the criticism of their onstage interplay.
