Beyond being a conservative activist, the late Charlie Kirk was a husband his wife Erika and father to a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son.
Kirk, 31, was assassinated Wednesday while at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. President Trump signaled Friday that the assassin was likely in custody.
Erika Kirk, née Frantzve, has not commented publicly since her husband was murdered.
Who is Erika Kirk?
Erika Kirk is a 36-year-old mother of two hailing from Arizona.
Kirk, who married Charlie on May 8, 2021, is known as a businesswoman, philanthropist and podcaster.
She hosts a twice-weekly podcast, “Midweek Rise Up,” which aims to “push you, Biblical leadership to challenge you, and God-breathed Scripture to posture your heart for the best that’s yet to come.”
Kirk also founded “Proclaim,” a faith-based clothing company.
She played NCAA women’s basketball for Regis University in Denver, Colorado, and won the Miss Arizona pageant in 2012. Kirk also graduated with a double major in Political Science and International Relations from Arizona State University and a Juris Master’s in American Legal Studies at Liberty University.
What is Turning Point USA?
Charlie Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 when he was 18 years old. The nonprofit political organization advocates for conservative politics on high school and college campuses, growing significantly more influential over the years.
According to its website, the organization’s mission is to “identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government.”
The group says it has a presence on over 3,500 campuses and describes itself as the largest and fastest-growing youth organization in America.
How did Charlie and Erika Kirk meet?
According to a Turning Point video, the pair went on a first date in 2019. Erika Kirk’s Instagram account is filled with images and videos of her husband and children, often together, as well as her Christian faith.
“I met her and we had a very, very long dinner, which was very close to almost an interview,” Charlie Kirk said of his first date.
In her biography, she expands on her love for her husband.
“Above all, Erika cherishes her role as the wife of Charlie Kirk and the mother of their precious son and daughter,” it reads.
“As she continues to grow in her ministry, leadership, and entrepreneurial endeavors, Erika remains committed to inspiring others to live with purpose, rooted in faith, and driven by the love of Christ in every aspect of life,” the bio continued.
