Erika Kirk, the wife of Charlie Kirk, recently shared the heartbreaking moment she spoke to her three-year-old daughter, Gigi, after his death. It’s a conversation no parent ever wants to have. The raw emotion came through as Erika recounted the difficult exchange.
“Last night, when I came home, Gigi, our daughter, ran into my arms,” Erika, 36, explained during a live broadcast on Charlie’s X account on Friday, September 12. “I talked with her, and she said, ‘Mommy, I miss you.’ I replied, ‘I miss you too, darling.’ Then she asked, ‘Where is Daddy?'” Erika paused, the weight of the question heavy. “How do you explain this to a three-year-old? She’s only three.” Erika then revealed her gentle, if imaginative, answer: “I told her, ‘Daddy loves you so much, sweetie. He’s on a work trip with Jesus so he can pay for your blueberry budget.'”
Erika broke her silence on Friday, two days after Charlie Kirk was tragically shot. The incident happened during his American Comeback Tour at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. His right-wing nonprofit organization, Turning Point USA, later confirmed that Charlie had passed away at 31 years old. The news sent shockwaves through their community.
The former Miss Arizona USA lovingly described Charlie, whom she married in 2021. She emphasized how much he adored his family. Being a husband and a father to Gigi and their one-year-old son brought him immense joy. “Above all, Charlie loved his children and loved me with all his heart,” she shared. “And I knew it every day. He made sure I knew it every day.” She remembered his constant efforts to be the best for them: “Every day he would ask me, ‘How can I serve you better? How can I be a better husband? How can I be a better father?'”
Amidst her profound grief, Erika found strength in her belief. “I know my husband is still here,” she stated, her voice full of conviction. “He watches over us. I don’t remember the last time I slept. I couldn’t sleep last night.” She made a solemn promise to her late husband. “Charlie, darling, Charlie, I promise you I will never let your legacy die, darling, I won’t.” Her emotional tribute concluded with a heartfelt message: “Oh, Charlie, I love you. I love you, darling. Rest in the arms of our Lord as he wraps you in the words I know your heart always longs to hear. Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
The shooting occurred on Wednesday, September 10. An armed individual fired a single shot, reportedly hitting Charlie in the neck. He had been sitting under a tent displaying the phrase “Prove Me Wrong.” Authorities quickly launched an investigation into the tragic event.
By Friday, law enforcement announced they had detained the alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, 22. Robinson, a Utah resident, reportedly has no political affiliation. Interestingly, on the very same day Kirk was killed, another violent incident made headlines. A school shooting in Evergreen, Colorado, left two high school students seriously injured.
Throughout his successful career as a conservative commentator, Kirk was a staunch defender of gun rights and the Second Amendment. At a Turning Point USA event in 2023, he made his views clear. “I believe it is worth taking the cost of, sadly, some gun deaths every year so that we can have the Second Amendment and protect our other God-given rights,” he stated. His untimely death, stemming from gun violence, adds a complex layer to his advocacy.