Charlie Kirk’s wife pays emotional tribute in first speech since assassination

Charlie Kirk’s widow broke down in tears as she paid tribute to ‘perfect’ husband and father, and vowed to continue his political work.

Erika Kirk made her first address since Mr Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck and killed while speaking to students at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

Mr Kirk, the founder of the right-wing youth group, Turning Point USA, and a dad-of-two, was answering questions on the topic of gun violence when the suspected gunman opened fire from a rooftop.

His widow Erika spoke about her late husband on Friday evening, standing next to an empty chair used by Mr Kirk in his podcasting studio.

She said: ‘Charlie, I promise I will never let your legacy die, baby.

Addressing the ‘evildoers,’ she said: ‘You have no idea of the fire that you have ignited within this wife, the cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.

‘If you thought that my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea, you have no idea what you just have unleashed across this entire country and this world, you have no idea.’

She also thanked President Donald Trump and vice president JD Vance and his wife Usha for their support.

Erika continued: ‘Charlie said if he ever ran for office, his top priority would be to revive the American family. That was his priority.’

‘But most of all, Charlie loved his children. And he loved me. With all his heart. And he made sure I knew that everyday.’

Erika went on to call him a ‘perfect’ father, crying throughout her comments.

She asked what she should tell their three-year-old daughter, whom the couple called GG, who had asked ‘where’s daddy’ the night before the shooting.

‘What do you tell a three-year-old?,’ she said.

‘Baby, daddy loves you so much. Don’t you worry. He’s on a work trip with Jesus he can afford your blueberry budget.’

Erika was last seen in public stepping out of Air Force One with the Vances and her husband’s coffin.

Tyler Robinson, 22, has been arrested as a suspect in Mr Kirk’s shooting, which is being treated as a suspected assassination.

Trump, who was the one to break the news that a suspect was in custody on Fox News, said it was Robinson’s dad who turned him in.

The US president said about his ally and friend: ‘What he did — Charlie Kirk was the finest person and he didn’t deserve this.’

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