Charlie Kirk, the right-wing political activist and aide to President Donald Trump, was assassinated during an event at Utah Valley University last Wednesday.
The 31-year-old was shot in the neck while speaking on campus, sparking national outrage and an urgent manhunt.
Authorities later arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who is being held without bail in Utah in connection with the killing.
Wife Erika posts heartbreaking tribute
On Friday, Kirk’s wife Erika shared a series of images and videos from his funeral on social media.
The carousel post opened with a family picture of the couple and their two children – a three-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son – before moving into scenes of Erika at her husband’s open casket.
She was seen weeping, holding onto Kirk's blazer, rubbing and kissing his hand, and whispering: “I love you.”
In another photo, she held a Batesville LifeStories Keepsake Medallion featuring an eagle next to his hand.
A video showed the coffin being taken from the room, with Usha Vance, wife of Vice President JD Vance, offering support to the grieving widow.
Calling the world “evil” in her caption, Erika wrote: “The world is evil. But our Savior. Our Lord. Our God. Не...Не is so good. I will never have the words. Ever.”
She continued: “The sound of this widow weeping echos throughout this world like a battle cry. I have no idea what any of this means. But baby I know you do and so does our Lord.”
In a warning to her husband’s killer, she added: “They have no idea what they just ignited within this wife. If they thought my husband's mission was big now..you have no idea. You. All of you. Will never. Ever. Forget my husband, Charlie. I'll make sure of it.”
Finally, she wished her husband peace: “Rest in the arms of our Lord baby as he blankets you with the words I know your heart always strived to hear, ‘well done My good and faithful servant.’”
A Harrowing Detail
One detail that viewers noticed was that Kirk's hands were yellow in the images.
One viewer said: "My deepest condolences! But this all looks so fake! No tears on his hand, no wedding ring, and the yellow hands look like silicone?"
There is, however, an easy explanation for this, as others pointed out.
One person wrote on Reddit: "Not the best embalming job based on his hands. The wound would be something that can be covered. Work and art to do but possible."
A second said: "The colour is likely to do with the type of embalming fluid they used, mixed with the pallor of the decedent's skin. Remember he no longer has blood coursing through his veins. They replaced it with embalming fluid (which comes in all colours, each colour used for a different purpose)."
Tearful public remarks
Erika delivered her first public speech from the office where her husband had hosted his podcast. She vowed: “I won’t let his legacy die.”
She recalled a moment with their daughter the night before: “‘Where’s daddy?’” the child had asked.
“What do you tell a three-year-old?” Erika explained that she reassured her daughter: “‘Baby, daddy loves you so much. Don’t you worry. He’s on a work trip with Jesus, so he can afford your blueberry budget.’”
In her address, Erika also emphasized his devotion to politics and family. Broadcasting on Turning Point USA’s YouTube channel, she thanked those who tried to save him and added: “Mr President, my husband loved you. And he knew that you loved him too.”
She also repeated: “But most of all, Charlie loved his children. And he loved me. With all his heart. And he made sure I knew that everyday.”