A new angle of the moment that Donald Trump hugged Erika Kirk has gone viral, with many being divided by the moment.
Tens of thousands gathered on Sunday, September 21, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, for the emotional memorial service of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA.
Charlie was tragically shot in the neck on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University during his “American Comeback” campus tour.
A Hug That Left the Internet Talking
As the ceremony came to a close, Trump was joined on stage by Erika Kirk.
The two embraced in a moment that was filled with emotion and was met with applause from the crowd.
However, it was not the hug itself that caught the most attention - it was Trump’s facial expression during the embrace that had social media buzzing.
Clips of the moment quickly went viral on TikTok, with users sharing their speculations on what Trump might have been thinking.
One user wrote: “We can all read the thoughts going through his mind right? Like it’s not just me?... what is this timeline?”
Other users joined in, commenting on how odd Trump’s expression seemed.
“I was crawling out of my skin about how weird it was,” one person wrote.
Another added: “It’s my fault for having eyes.”
A third chimed in: “Omg!!! there are things I never needed to see.”
A Different Perspective Of The Moment
A new angle of the moment has been doing the rounds on social media, and this time, Trump is being celebrated for how he reacted.
The footage, which is shot from backstage, shows Erika walking up to the President and embracing him in a very genuine hug.
One viewer wrote: "President Trump is the shoulder to lean on, the father figure to hug for comfort in times of sadness and distress."
A second said: "What a beautiful and sincere moment between Erika Kirk and President Trump."
A Heartbreaking Memory: Erika Recalls Seeing Charlie's Body
As part of her emotional address, Erika also shared a personal and heartbreaking memory of the moments following Charlie’s death.
She recalled visiting him in the hospital and seeing the wound that ultimately took his life.
"I saw the wound that ended his life. I felt everything he would expect to feel," Erika said.
“I felt shock. I felt horror, and a level of heartache that I didn’t even know existed.
"But there was something else, too.
"Even in death, I could see the man that I love… I also saw on his lips the faintest smile."
Erika explained that a surgeon had told her that even if the gunshot wound had happened in an operating room, it would have been impossible to save him.
“There was no pain, there was no fear, no agony. One moment, Charlie was doing what he loved… then he blinked. He blinked and saw his savior in paradise,” she concluded.