DONALD Trump has revealed Charlie Kirk’s heartbroken wife Erika is “absolutely devastated” after the conservative firebrand was shot dead in Utah.
The former beauty queen, 36, held a “long talk” with the US President earlier today after a cowardly rooftop sniper opened fire on Kirk.
Heartbroken wife Erika Kirk today paid tribute to Charlie after the assassination of Kirk[/caption]
The former Miss Arizona USA and the “conservative boy wonder” tied the knot in 2021 after meeting during the Trump years[/caption]
Kirk and Erika shared a three-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son.
Speaking to reporters outside of the White House Donald Trump opened up on his phone call with a shaken Erika.
He said: “I spoke to Erika his wife and we had a long talk and she is devastated, she’s absolutely devastated as you can imagine.”
Erika is yet to publicly comment on the loss of the 31-year-old MAGA ally who often said raising a family was his “greatest privilege.”
Just two weeks ago, Kirk had posted: “Having a family will change your life in the best ways.”
Though hailed as one of Donald Trump’s most powerful young allies, Charlie’s life away from the political spotlight was devoted to Erika and their children.
Rather than red-carpet parties, the couple preferred trips to Sesame Street sets and basketball games with their kids.
The proud dad wrote once: “Raising my children with Erika was the greatest privilege.”
Erika, crowned Miss Arizona USA in 2012, described her husband in a recent speech: “He is my husband Charlie Kirk, he is a force. He is the force.
“He is bold when the world demands silence. He is fearless where others flinch.”
The pair regularly shared their affection in public and Erika often urged women to “empower and encourage and love your husband.”
She added: “If you married the right man and equally yoked this is easier to do.”
THE RISE OF A FIREBRAND
Kirk went from high school dropout to founder of Turning Point USA — a non-profit he built into a $100million political powerhouse credited with helping deliver Trump’s second presidential win.
He cut his teeth carrying bags and fetching Diet Cokes for Donald Trump Jr, who remembered him last night as “like a little brother to me — and to millions of people around the world — he was a true inspiration.”
Charlie’s outspoken podcast The Charlie Kirk Show and campus tours made him a household name among conservative Gen Z voters.
Charlie Kirk hands out hats before speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah[/caption]
The Turning Point USA founder and his wife Erika often spoke about their love for America, God and family[/caption]
But his proudest role was father. “Raising my children with Erika was the greatest privilege,” he wrote.
HORROR IN UTAH
Kirk was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University, the first stop of his “America Comeback Tour.”
Authorities say he was shot dead by a sniper positioned on a rooftop a few hundred yards away.
Timeline of Charlie Kirk shooting
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on September 10.
11:52 am MDT – The shooter, described as a college-age individual, arrives on campus before maneuvering onto a rooftop.
12:00 pm – Charlie Kirk is scheduled to host a debate in the UVU Fountain Courtyard.
12:10 pm – A shot is fired at Kirk from 200 yards away and hits him in the neck. The event is immediately evacuated and a man is taken into custody.
1:02 pm – President Donald Trump posts a call to pray for Kirk on Truth Social.
1:37 pm – UVU closes campus, cancels classes, and tells students to leave campus immediately.
1:50 pm – Officials confirm Kirk is in critical condition to the Associated Press.
2:40 pm – Trump confirms Kirk has died, hailing him “great, legendary” in a post on Truth Social.
4:21 pm FBI Director Kash Patel shares on X that the ‘subject for the horrific shooting’ is in custody.
4:30 pm – Utah Governor Spencer Cox, speaking at a press conference, brands Kirk’s death a ‘political assassination. Cox adds there is a ‘person of interest’ in custody and a man arrested earlier has been released.
7:59 pm – Patel, the FBI director, confirmed a second subject taken into custody in connection with Kirk’s shooting was released after being interrogated by law enforcement.
September 11
7:15 am – Officials hold a press conference where they announce they have “good video” of the suspect and they recovered the “high-action bolt rifle” in the nearby woods.
Two people initially arrested were later released, and a huge manhunt is now under way.
The FBI says the suspect is a male of “college age” who used a high-powered bolt action rifle.
Forensic experts recovered a palm print and forearm imprints, and investigators are tracing his movements before and after the attack.
If they fail to track him down soon, images of the suspect may be released.
Trump quickly turned to Truth Social to share his grief.
Confirming Kirk’s death on Truth Social, he wrote: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead.”
Hours later he appeared on video, saying he was “filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk” and branding it a “dark moment for America.”
The president hailed Kirk as “a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate” and vowed to crack down on “radical left political violence.”
He linked the attack to last year’s assassination attempt on himself and the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Trump also ordered all flags flown at half-staff until Sunday.
Vice President JD Vance called him a close friend who had supported him throughout his career.
Charlie Kirk’s rise to hero of the youth MAGA movement
CHARLIE Kirk transformed conservative youth activism from a marginal movement into a powerful force before his assassination on a college campus at 31.
Kirk was an American conservative political activist, author, and media personality who rose to prominence as the co-founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA).
He launched the organization in 2012 when he was just 18 years old, with the goal of promoting conservative principles to high school and college students and became a significant figure in American politics by building a massive grassroots network, framing himself as a “culture warrior.”
The rise of Turning Point USA
Turning Point USA’s mission was to counter what Kirk and his allies saw as liberal dominance on American college campuses.
It quickly grew to prominence through his use of provocative activism and viral social media campaigns.
They created watchlists of professors pushing leftist propaganda and organized events to debate students on controversial topics.
The strategy helped them gain a significant following and financial backing from wealthy conservative donors.
Kirk’s ability to connect with a new generation of conservatives was one of his most notable impacts.
He cultivated a style of political engagement that was heavily reliant on social media, podcasts, and confrontational public appearances.
His organization’s events, such as the annual Student Action Summit, drew thousands of young attendees and featured prominent conservative speakers, creating a new kind of political ecosystem for young people who felt alienated from traditional conservative groups.
A key ally of Donald Trump
Kirk also became a staunch supporter and ally of President Donald Trump.
He was the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention and served as an aide to Donald Trump Jr. during the presidential campaign.
This relationship solidified his position within the Republican Party’s “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) wing, and his organization became an integral part of Trump’s political apparatus.
Through his popular podcast, “The Charlie Kirk Show,” and his frequent appearances on conservative media, Kirk was a powerful voice in the pro-Trump movement.
He often framed political issues as a “spiritual battle” between good and evil and championed a pugnacious, populist form of conservatism.
His influence was so significant that after Trump’s 2024 victory, Kirk was credited with helping to mobilize younger voters for the campaign.
Influence on culture and social issues
Beyond traditional politics, Kirk’s influence extended deeply into social and cultural issues.
He was a vocal opponent of “woke” ideology, particularly in education and media.
He promoted traditional values, often encouraging young women to prioritize becoming homemakers and mothers over professional careers.
Kirk also openly criticized programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
He was also a major proponent of Christian nationalism, arguing that there is no true separation of church and state in the United States.
The Turning Point Empire
Kirk’s activism led to the expansion of the Turning Point brand into a larger political and media empire.
He launched Turning Point Action, a political advocacy group focused on voter mobilization, and Turning Point Faith, aimed at engaging evangelical Christian communities in conservative politics.
These affiliated organizations allowed him to broaden his reach and influence beyond college campuses, into a more mainstream political force.
The MAGA firebrand said raising his children with Erika was ‘the greatest privilege’ of his life[/caption]
Rather than red carpets, the pair preferred basketball games and trips to Sesame Street with their kids[/caption]
