Erika Kirk Reveals The Blood-Stained Keepsake From Charlie Kirk She Wears

Charlie Kirk’s shocking assassination at a Turning Point USA event earlier this month continues to send shockwaves across the country. The 31-year-old conservative activist, who founded TPUSA in 2012, was gunned down on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. The tragedy has sparked nationwide outrage, with prosecutors vowing to seek the death penalty against suspected shooter Tyler Robinson, and thousands of mourners expected to pack Charlie’s funeral at an NFL stadium in Arizona. Now, his widow, Erika Kirk, is opening up about her devastating loss and the haunting reminder she keeps close to her heart.

In a raw interview with The New York Times, Erika Kirk revealed she now wears the small St. Michael icon that medics tore from Charlie Kirk’s chest as they fought to save his life. The pendant, still marked with traces of his blood, serves as a painful reminder of the moment America lost one of its most polarizing voices.

Just one day before Erika’s emotional interview, Turning Point USA announced that she would step in as the organization’s new chief executive. A spokesperson, Andrew Kolvet, praised her as the group’s “beating heart, spiritual center and life force.” Still, Kolvet acknowledged that no one could ever truly fill Charlie’s shoes. Over the last decade, he had transformed TPUSA from a scrappy startup into a conservative powerhouse with $96 million in annual revenue and a massive influence on America’s youth.

It remains unclear whether Erika will continue her husband’s popular daily podcast or take on his signature role of sparring with liberal students on college campuses, a hallmark of his activism that helped fuel TPUSA’s rise.

Despite the uncertainty, many inside Turning Point say Erika has the strength and resolve to lead the organization into its next chapter. She’s already received a powerful show of support from President Donald Trump, who has personally called her twice since Charlie Kirk's death. The two have known each other since 2012, when Trump was running the Miss USA pageants and Erika was competing as Miss Arizona. Their long-standing connection has carried over into this devastating moment.

“Charlie was like a son to him,” Erika shared. “And when the president said, ‘Just let us know how we can support you,’ I told him, ‘My husband just loved conversing with you and using you as a sounding board for all sorts of things. Could we continue that?’ And he said, ‘Of course.’”

Now left to raise their 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son, Erika says motherhood, while overwhelming, is the one part of her life that doesn’t feel traumatic. She explained that being raised by her own mother after her parents’ divorce gave her the strength to take on this new chapter.

Just two days after Charlie Kirk's murder, and only hours after Tyler Robinson was taken into custody, Erika delivered a powerful 15-minute speech via livestream. Reading from notes she’d scribbled during a sleepless night, she vowed, “No one will ever forget my husband’s name, and I will make sure of it.”

Insisting on speaking live rather than recording her remarks ahead of time, Erika said her choice was simple, “Because that’s what Charlie would do, for sure.” The moment gave the outside world its first glimpse of her resilience, even as she continues to process unimaginable grief.

Authorities have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder and announced they will seek the death penalty. According to prosecutors, Robinson “intentionally” targeted Kirk because of his political beliefs.

The charging documents reveal that investigators tied Robinson to the crime through DNA evidence on the weapon and a texted confession. Robinson also faces six additional charges, including obstruction of justice for concealing the gun and destroying clothing worn during the shooting, felony discharge of a firearm and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child, and witness tampering after allegedly directing his roommate to delete incriminating text messages and remain silent.

Charlie Kirk’s assassination has left a deep scar across the conservative movement. His funeral, held at the NFL stadium in Glendale, Arizona, is expected to draw tens of thousands of mourners, with long lines already forming.

For Erika and the couple’s two children, the grief remains raw and unrelenting. Her decision to wear Charlie’s blood-stained pendant underscores the profound weight of her loss and the enduring legacy of a man whose life was cut tragically short.