Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, endorsed Vice President JD Vance for president on Thursday.
The chairwoman and CEO of the right-wing group Turning Point USA made the announcement at the organization’s annual AmericaFest conference — the first held since her husband was killed in September.
“We are going to get my husband’s friend, JD Vance, elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible,” Kirk told the crowd, drawing cheers and applause.
Her endorsement comes nearly a month after she told conservative commentator Megyn Kelly that Turning Point USA’s support for a potential Vance 2028 run was already “in the works.” She also said one of her last conversations with her husband touched on how deliberate he was about backing Vance in the next presidential election.
Vance, who is scheduled to speak at AmericaFest on Sunday, has not announced a 2028 campaign. Last month, he told Fox News host Sean Hannity that he wants to keep his attention on next year’s midterms before getting into any presidential plans.
Online, Kirk’s endorsement quickly reignited chatter that began after she warmly embraced Vance at an October Turning Point event honoring her late husband. That hug — along with Kirk’s comment that she sees “some similarities” between her husband and Vance — fueled rumors about their relationship and renewed scrutiny of Vance’s marriage to Usha Vance.
Speculation about the Vances’ relationship intensified after the second lady was photographed last month without her wedding ring. Usha Vance has brushed off the gossip as a “family joke,” while Kirk has said the hug was misread and taken out of context.
Even so, Kirk’s latest show of support for Vance set off another wave of reactions across social media.
