US3 min(s) read
Published 10:49 09 Jun 2026 GMT
US Vice President JD Vance has revealed that the death of his friend Charlie Kirk played a major role in his family's decision to have another child.
Vance and his wife, Usha, are already parents to three children — nine-year-old Ewan, six-year-old Vivek and four-year-old Mirabel. The couple is now preparing to welcome their fourth child, a baby boy, later this year.
In his forthcoming book, Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith, Vance reflects on the impact Kirk's death had on both him and his family.
In an excerpt published by The Wall Street Journal, the vice president explained that a conversation between Usha and Kirk's widow, Erika, proved particularly significant.
"As my wife held Charlie Kirk's widow on the first day of her terrible sorrow, Erika [Kirk] told Usha between sobs that she regretted having only two kids with Charlie," Vance wrote.
He went on to explain that he had wanted another child for some time, but Usha had previously felt their family was complete.
"For years, I'd asked Usha to have another baby, and for years, she told me she was done, especially now that public service had elevated us into the national spotlight."
According to Vance, the tragedy ultimately changed his wife's outlook.
"But something changed for Usha, and not long after we buried my friend, she became pregnant with our fourth child, a boy."
Kirk, a conservative political commentator and founder of Turning Point USA, was killed at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. Tyler Robinson has been charged with his murder, and prosecutors are reportedly seeking the death penalty if he is convicted.
Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012 as an organization promoting conservative values on college campuses and in educational settings. Following his death, his wife Erika took over as the group's CEO.
Vance and Kirk were known to be close friends, and the vice president has continued to appear at Turning Point USA events alongside Erika since his death.
The Vances announced the pregnancy earlier this year. In a statement shared on X in January, the couple said: "We've very excited to share the news that Usha is pregnant with our fourth child, a boy. Usha and the baby are doing well, and we are all looking forward to welcoming him in late July."
The statement also thanked those helping support their family.
"During this exciting and hectic time, we are particularly grateful for the military doctors who take excellent care of our family and for the staff members who do so much to ensure that we can serve the country while enjoying a wonderful life with our children."
Alongside the announcement, the couple shared a simple message celebrating the news: "We're very happy to share some exciting news. Our family is growing."
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Published 10:53 11 Sep 2025 GMT
Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem. He was 31 years old.
During the Utah event, Kirk was speaking in a Q&A session with students when he was shot in the neck. Footage circulating on social media captured him falling limp as he was struck. He was rushed to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
President Donald Trump confirmed Kirk’s death on Truth Social, posting: "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.
"He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!"
The conservative activist leaves behind his wife, Erika Kirk, and their two young children: a three-year-old daughter and a 16-month-old son.
Just hours before the shooting, Erika Kirk shared a post on her X account, quoting Psalm 46:1: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
The couple had celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary in May. According to social media posts by Erika, they wed in May 2021 in what she described as a "very intimate" ceremony in Arizona, without bridesmaids or groomsmen.
She also shared advice to newly engaged couples: "If you’re newly engaged and feeling the rush and pressure of preparing for the 'big day'... Slow down. It’s one day; yes, it marks a new chapter of life. Yes, it symbolizes a special covenant between you, your husband and the Lord."
Erika then emphasized the importance of focusing on life after the wedding: "But remember it’s the days afterward that matter more. Reframe your mindset. Don’t stress over the flowers or linens. Weddings turn people crazy and can bring out unnecessary family drama; let it go."
Erika, who won the title of Miss Arizona USA in 2012, grew up in a close-knit Catholic family. She attended Arizona State University, where she double-majored in political science and international relations.
More recently, she founded the ministry program BIBLEin365, which aims to help individuals engage with scripture.
Her biography states: "Above all, Erika cherishes her role as the wife of Charlie Kirk and the mother of their precious son and daughter. 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."
In the weeks prior to the shooting, the Kirks appeared with their children on Fox & Friends, with footage showing their daughter running across the studio floor to her father, who picked her up.
Officials from Utah Valley University stated that the shot came from the roof of the Losee Center, approximately 200 feet away from where Kirk was speaking, per NBC.
Authorities initially detained an elderly man who was later cleared.
A separate person of interest was taken into custody but subsequently released, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed: "The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement. Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency."
Governor Spencer Cox described the shooting as a targeted attack and said authorities continue to investigate.
us3 min(s) read
Published 09:28 15 Oct 2025 GMT
Erika Kirk, the wife of late conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, has spoken publicly about her journey through grief following her husband’s tragic death just over a month ago.
Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University during an event hosted by his organization, Turning Point USA. Police later arrested a suspect, Tyler Robinson, in connection with the shooting.
Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika, and their two young children - a one-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter. Since his passing, Erika has stepped into her husband’s role as CEO of Turning Point USA, vowing to continue the work that defined his life.
In the weeks since Kirk's death, Erika has continued to share heartfelt tributes and old clips of her husband on social media, celebrating his legacy and his movement.
However, her decision to resume her leadership role so quickly sparked mixed reactions online, with some critics suggesting she should be focusing solely on her family.
Others implied her public appearances reflected a “short mourning period.”
On the one-month anniversary of Charlie’s death, Erika addressed those assumptions directly, offering an honest and deeply personal reflection on what grief has truly felt like for her.
Posting a series of clips showing supporters gathering to honor her husband, Erika wrote in her Instagram caption: “There is no linear blueprint for grief.
"One day you’re collapsed on the floor crying out the name Jesus in between labored breaths.
"The next you’re playing with your children in the living room… and feeling a rush of something you can only attempt to define as divinely planted and bittersweet joy as a smile breaks through on your face.”
She went on to reflect that while people often say time heals, love doesn’t seek healing — it seeks remembrance.
“Love asks to be remembered. It’s humbling to realize that this magnitude of suffering didn’t steal my love for my husband. It amplified it. It crystallized it.”
Erika shared that her husband remains a constant presence in her life and that she feels his influence in every moment: “I carry my Charlie in every breath, in every ache, and in every quiet act of day-to-day living as I attempt to relearn what that rhythm will be.
"The greater the suffering, the purer the love. And I have never loved him more than I do now.”
In a follow-up post, Erika revealed one of Charlie’s handwritten love notes, part of a tradition he maintained every Saturday.
“He never missed one,” she said. “I share this in hopes that today, husbands are encouraged to be even better husbands and wives are encouraged to be even better wives.”
Through her words, Erika Kirk has not only paid tribute to her husband but also offered a profound message of hope, resilience, and enduring love in the face of unimaginable loss.
us4 min(s) read
Published 09:38 12 Sep 2025 GMT
New details are emerging regarding Charlie Kirk's family, who were present at the time he was assassinated.
Kirk, the co-founder of conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA, was assassinated during a speaking event at Utah Valley University on September 10.
The 31-year-old was fatally shot in the neck while answering student questions in a Q&A session.
The gunman is still at large, and authorities are urgently seeking help from the public. According to officials, the fatal shot came from the roof of the Losee Center, located roughly 200 feet from where Kirk was speaking.
The FBI’s Salt Lake City office released security footage of the suspect, believed to be a college-aged male dressed in black sunglasses, a black long-sleeved shirt, black pants, and a hat.
"We are asking for the public's help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University," the FBI said on X. A $100,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.
Kirk’s wife, Erika, 36, is said to be struggling with the sudden loss while caring for the couple’s two young children - a three-year-old daughter and a 16-month-old son.
Sources told NewsNation she is “leaning on her faith” to get through the grief.
Jack Posobiec, a contributor to Turning Point USA and close friend of the family, said Erika is “unbelievably strong” and deeply rooted in her faith, per The Sun.
“At the same time someone's going to have to explain to his son and daughter why their dad didn't come home yesterday,” he said.
Posobiec continued: “Erika is a prayer warrior, her and Charlie are very devout believers, they are very very deeply Christian. When you see the cameras turn off, the lights go down, they immediately go back to faith - this is something they live 24/7.
“It is not something that only exists in front of the camera, that is something that they absolutely walk every single day. Because they have that firm reliance in faith, [Erika] has that ability to be able to go through this with that kind of strength that really only comes from heaven.”
Erika has yet to release a public statement, but Utah’s Department of Public Safety Commissioner noted the family is “devastated.”
Charlie and Erika Kirk had been married since May 2021.
According to Erika’s posts, the couple had a “very intimate” wedding ceremony in Arizona without bridesmaids or groomsmen. They recently celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary.
Erika, who was crowned Miss Arizona USA in 2012, grew up in a tight-knit Catholic family and attended Arizona State University, where she double-majored in political science and international relations.
She later founded BIBLEin365, a ministry program designed to help individuals engage with scripture daily.
Her bio reads: "Above all, Erika cherishes her role as the wife of Charlie Kirk and the mother of their precious son and daughter.
"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."
She also shared advice to newly engaged couples: "If you’re newly engaged and feeling the rush and pressure of preparing for the 'big day'... Slow down. It’s one day; yes, it marks a new chapter of life. Yes, it symbolizes a special covenant between you, your husband and the Lord.
"But remember it’s the days afterward that matter more. Reframe your mindset. Don’t stress over the flowers or linens. Weddings turn people crazy and can bring out unnecessary family drama; let it go."
us3 min(s) read
Published 13:51 12 Sep 2025 GMT
President Donald Trump has opened up about the heartbreaking conversation he had with Charlie Kirk’s grieving wife.
Kirk was shot dead in front of nearly 3,000 people while speaking at his “Prove Me Wrong” event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday (September 10).
The 31-year-old, who was the CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was married to Erika Frantzve, and together they shared a three-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son.
On Thursday (September 11), Trump spoke to reporters outside the White House about how Kirk's wife is coping, telling the publications: “I spoke to Erika, his wife, and we had a long talk, and she is devastated. She’s absolutely devastated, as you can imagine."
Erika, a former Miss Arizona USA, has yet to publicly comment on her husband's death.
The 79-year-old president hailed Kirk as a patriot who “devoted his life to the cause of open debate," and said he was “filled with grief and anger” by the “heinous assassination".
“Charlie inspired millions, and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror,” he shared. “He fought for liberty, democracy, justice, and the American people. He's a martyr for truth and freedom, and there's never been anyone who was so respected by youth.”
Trump warned that political violence is the result of years of demonizing opponents. “It’s long past time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree day after day, year after year in the most hateful and despicable way possible,” he said.
“For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to nazis and the world's worst mass murderers and criminals. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we're seeing in our country today. And it must stop right now," he added.
Vice President JD Vance, who arrived in Salt Lake City to retrieve Kirk’s body aboard Air Force Two, remembered Charlie as a “close friend” who had supported him throughout his career.
Authorities have confirmed that Kirk was shot from a rooftop by a sniper positioned several hundred yards away.
In a subsequent update, President Trump disclosed that police have made significant progress in the case.
“I think we have him. I think with a high degree of certainty we have him in custody. He's in custody,” he told Fox News, adding that “someone very close to him turned him in,” and credited the help of a “minister, father” in capturing the suspect.
"I hope he's gonna be found guilty, I would imagine, and I hope he gets the death penalty for what he did," Trump continued."Things may change, but facts are the facts, we have who we're looking for."
The killer’s identity is still being withheld as the investigation continues.
us5 min(s) read
Published 16:14 22 Sep 2025 GMT
Erika Kirk has opened up about the heartbreaking warning she gave her husband the night before he was killed.
Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University.
The murder has sent shockwaves across the nation, with his wife now sharing details about their last moments before the tragedy.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Erika described how she and her late husband spent the evening before his campus tour with a close friend who was a faith leader.
They gathered for dinner in Phoenix, where they all prayed together.
For months, the Turning Point USA founder had been receiving death threats, which had led him to travel with a security team.
But Erika’s worries reached a new level that evening, and she expressed her concern directly, asking Kirk to start wearing a bulletproof vest.
She also added that their friend also suggested that he speak behind bulletproof glass at events.
Despite the growing threats, the right-wing influencer showed reluctance to follow these precautions, replying, “Not yet.”
He believed in the safety of his team and the additional security measures in place for his tour.
Erika admitted she had begun to wonder if Kirk had “surrendered to the prospect” that his life could be cut short due to the dangerous nature of his work.
She noted that he had previously discussed the possibility of violence affecting him, a grim reality he had accepted.
What makes the situation even more chilling is that the mom-of-two was originally scheduled to be with Kirk at the Utah event, but had to change her plans.
Her mother was scheduled for medical treatment in Phoenix the same day.
She recalled her husband telling her, “Home needs you,” before they planned for her to join him at the next stop on the tour in Colorado.
Following his death, Erika has been vocal about her grief and how she is coping with the loss of her husband.
She recently posted an emotional tribute on Instagram, sharing what she described as one of the “last photos” taken of Kirk.
In the image, he is wearing a white “Freedom” shirt, raising one arm while holding a stack of red-and-white caps he was handing out to event attendees.
“You loved witnessing excellence. It’s why you loved sports so much. You loved watching the best of the best perform at the level of greatness God intended for them," she penned in the post.
"This is one of the last photos taken of you before you were murdered.
"I look at it and can’t help but see excellence.
"You’re in your element. You’re in athlete mode. Training for this exact moment, mind, body, and soul.”
She continued, “To me, this is your ‘Jordan’ photo. Permanently etched in time, held in my heart, as I admire your greatness.
"Forever. I pray you’ve had the most amazing week in Heaven @charliekirk1776 I love you.”
Charlie Kirk’s funeral service, held on September 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, was attended by more than 60,000 people.
The memorial blurred the lines between a political rally and a religious service, with attendees wearing red, white, and blue MAGA hats, and “Freedom” shirts like the one Charlie had worn in his final moments.
Erika, standing out in a white suit paired with a black top, delivered an emotional promise to her late husband. “I love you Charlie, baby. And I will make you proud,” she said.
President Donald Trump, who attended the memorial, posthumously awarded Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In his speech, Trump praised Kirk's faith, recalling how the late man had called his decision to become a Christian in fifth grade the “most important decision of his life”.
“The answer to hate is not hate,” Erika said during the service. “The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love - love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.”
Tyler Robinson, 22, from Utah, has been arrested and charged with seven counts related to the killing, including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering.
Despite the tragic loss, Erika has publicly stated that she forgives Robinson, saying it was what Charlie would have done.
"That young man, that young man. On the cross, our savior said: 'Father, forgive them for they not know what they do,'" she said. “That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it is what Charlie would do."
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