Less than two months have passed since Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University. For most widows, this would still be a time of deep grief and staying out of the public eye. Erika Kirk has done the opposite, jumping straight into running Turning Point USA and has been showing up at big public events.
The reaction to Charlie’s death was massive. Turning Point USA said over 50,000 people wanted to join or start chapters within just one week of the shooting. Erika wasted no time in promising to grow the organization and has been traveling to college campuses and speaking at events, picking up right where Charlie left off.
But her latest event at the University of Mississippi on October 29 sparked discussion for all the wrong reasons. Standing before roughly 10,000 people, Erika introduced Vice President JD Vance and made a comment that didn’t sit well with many viewers. She told everyone that nobody could replace Charlie, but then said JD Vance reminds her of him. As per TMS, she said, “No one will ever replace my husband, no, but I do see some similarities of my husband in JD.”
The hug that got everyone talking
After Erika finished introducing him, Vance came on stage and they hugged. But this wasn’t just a regular hug, with observers saying it looked too close and lasted too long. Pictures and videos show Vance putting his hands on Erika’s lower back while she seemed to touch his head. The moment spread quickly across social media, and people started asking questions about what they saw.
Video of Erika Kirk welcoming JD Vance to the stage in Mississippi
— PatriotTakes
pic.twitter.com/Tf9mo4iTrY(@patriottakes) October 30, 2025
The whole thing looked even worse because of what Vance said at the same event. He talked about wanting his wife Usha to stop being Hindu and convert to Christianity:
“I honestly do wish that because I believe in the Christian gospel, and I hope eventually, my wife comes to see it the same way.”
The hand on his head though….
— Julie
Embarrassing for JD's wife. pic.twitter.com/RKewvrNwLj(@TruBluBrewCru) October 30, 2025
When people saw him say this and then hug Erika so closely, many wondered what’s really going on. Meanwhile, the government has gotten involved with Charlie Kirk’s show and sent out some serious warnings.
Erika Kirk: “No one will ever replace my husband, but I do see some similarities of my husband in JD”pic.twitter.com/Gm4PHz4D3c
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) October 31, 2025
Some people online pointed out that Erika fits the typical Christian conservative image that many Republicans like to show off, suggesting this might make her look better to MAGA white nationalists than the Indian American Hindu Usha Vance. One writer from the New York Times even posted on X that she thinks Vance will divorce Usha and marry Erika by the end of 2026:
Vance announces divorce, marries Charlie Kirk’s widow by the end of 2026. https://t.co/waBOG8EYXi
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) October 30, 2025
There is no actual evidence that Vance and Erika have any romantic feelings for each other. They just work together through Turning Point USA. Vance is still married to Usha, and nothing has changed there.
But the way things looked at that Mississippi event definitely made people wonder about whether this is appropriate, especially since Charlie is only barely in the ground.
