Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika, has opened up about why she forgives her husband's alleged killer.
The 31-year-old was fatally shot in the neck on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University during the launch of his “American Comeback” campus tour.
Prosecutors say Tyler Robinson, 22, carried out the killing, and he now faces multiple felony charges, including aggravated murder - a charge that could carry the death penalty.
Additional charges include felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice for allegedly disposing of a rifle and clothing, two counts of witness tampering related to his roommate, and committing a violent offense in front of a child.
On Sunday (September 21), a memorial for the late Turning Point USA founder was held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
At the service, Kirk’s widow Erika delivered an emotional address to the crowd, declaring that she forgives her husband’s alleged killer.
“My husband, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,” she said, per The Guardian. “That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it is what Charlie would do.”
Taking on her late husband’s role as head of Turning Point USA, Erika promised to carry on his work.
“The answer to hate is not hate,” she told the crowd. “The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love - love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.”
The memorial featured appearances from top Trump administration officials, MAGA allies, and members of Congress.
Vice President JD Vance described Kirk as “a martyr for the Christian faith,” saying: “For Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America, and defending the truth, than it is to die on our knees."
"My friends, for Charlie, we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America," he shared.
Meanwhile, Stephen Miller warned political opponents that “you have no idea the dragon you have awakened.”
“And to those trying to incite violence against us, those trying to foment hatred against us, what do you have? You have nothing. You are nothing. You are wickedness. You are jealousy, you are envy, you are hatred," he added.
President Donald Trump, who followed Erika’s speech, struck a very different tone, telling the crowd that Kirk "did not hate his opponents" and instead, "he wanted the best for them".
“That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponents, and I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry. I am sorry, Erika," he shared.
The 79-year-old then went on to tout an upcoming White House announcement, saying: “I think we found an answer to autism. How about that: autism?”
Though the president and some allies have blamed the “radical left” for Kirk’s assassination, three officials familiar with the investigation told NBC News that federal authorities have so far found no evidence tying Robinson to left-wing groups.
One source said: “Every indication so far is that this was one guy who did one really bad thing because he found Kirk’s ideology personally offensive.”