Erira Kirk: «I forgive the man who took my husband’s life»

Erira Kirk, wife of Charlie Kirk, who was killed a few weeks earlier during an outdoor activity on a university campus in Utah, spoke at a memorial service that had the feel of a political rally.

In an emotional address, Erira Kirk struck a stark contrast with the other speakers, whose remarks had turned the ceremony into a platform for political attacks. Amid this combative tone, she chose a different path, declaring that she forgave her husband’s killer.

Before a crowd gathered both to pay tribute and to project a combative political stance, she chose to deliver a message of forgiveness. «I forgive the man who took my husband’s life», she declared, prompting a mix of astonishment and applause.

Her words, marked by gravity, gave the ceremony a profound tone amid a memorial service overshadowed by an unusual militant atmosphere, shaped in part by the speeches of JD Vance and Donald Trump

Addressing the thousands gathered at the memorial, Vice President JD Vance cast Charlie Kirk’s death in explicitly heroic and religious terms.

«We must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America, and he is a martyr for the Christian faith. May our heavenly Father give us the courage to live as Charlie lived», Vance told the crowd, framing Kirk not only as a political figure but as a symbol of Christian sacrifice and national devotion.

At the Glendale memorial for Charlie Kirk, President Donald Trump drew a sharp contrast between his own political stance and the values he attributed to the slain conservative activist. Paying tribute, Trump described Kirk as «truly … a missionary with a noble spirit and a great, great purpose.»

Trump added that Kirk embodied a generosity of spirit: «He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them.»

But Trump immediately distanced himself from that approach, offering words that underscored his combative posture: «That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent and I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry, I am sorry, Erika,» he declared, addressing Kirk’s widow.

The admission, delivered in front of thousands, highlighted the president’s readiness to embrace confrontation, even in a moment intended for remembrance and reconciliation.

Erika Kirk delivered a message that sharply contrasted with the combative tone of Trump: «My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life», and with her voice breaking, she added: «That young man … I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it is what Charlie would do.»

She urged the audience to resist anger and retaliation, declaring: «The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.»

Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA, was shot and killed earlier this month during an outdoor event on a university campus in Utah.

His death sent shockwaves through the conservative movement and drew tens of thousands to Glendale, Arizona, for a memorial that blended religious fervor with partisan politics.

While his assassination has intensified political divisions, his wife Erika Kirk has emerged as both the guardian of his legacy and the new chief executive of his organization, vowing to continue the mission he began.