The widow of Charlie Kirk delivered a deeply emotional tribute during her late husband’s memorial service on September 21.
Earlier this month, the 31-year-old political activist and Turning Point USA leader was tragically shot while speaking at Utah Valley University. He leaves behind his wife, Erika Kirk, and their two young children.
Over the weekend, his funeral was held at the Arizona Cardinals’ stadium, drawing tens of thousands of mourners along with prominent MAGA figures. Among those paying tribute were President Donald Trump, Senator JD Vance, and, most moving of all, Erika herself.
One unforgettable moment came during Erika’s speech. She raised her left hand, fingers positioned in a familiar shape, and pointed toward the sky. Many in the audience wondered what it meant. According to Lingvano, the gesture was American Sign Language for “I love you.” In ASL, it is made by extending the thumb, index finger, and little finger, while pressing the middle and ring fingers against the palm. By directing it upward, Erika was sending a message of eternal love to her husband in heaven.
Her tribute was filled with both pain and faith. “He left this world without regret. He gave one hundred percent of himself every single day. But I want you to know something: Charlie died with incomplete work, but not with unfinished business,” she told the crowd.
In a moment that stunned many, Erika also revealed that she forgave the man accused of killing her husband, believed to be Tyler Robinson. Quoting Scripture, she said: “I forgive him because it is what Christ did. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” She explained that Charlie’s mission had always been to save young men — even those like the one who took his life.
With unwavering determination, Erika announced that she would step forward to carry her husband’s legacy by becoming Turning Point USA’s CEO and chairwoman. “The world needs a movement that will guide young people away from the path of misery and sin,” she declared. “And so, I promise you today, every part of our work will grow stronger.”
In honor of his influence and dedication, Charlie Kirk is also set to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously by Donald Trump.
In a final remarkable note, Andrew Kolvet of TPUSA shared that Charlie’s surgeon believed the activist had “miraculously” saved other people’s lives on the day he died — a testament to the impact of his last moments.