Erika Kirk Endorses ‘My Husband’s Friend’ JD Vance for President in 2028

Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, endorsed Vice President JD Vance for president in 2028 while opening Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference.

Nearly two months after a widely shared onstage embrace between the two, Erika — who has stepped into her late husband’s role as Turning Point CEO — addressed the crowd at the Phoenix Convention Center on Thursday, Dec. 18, and publicly threw her support behind what she described as Vance’s anticipated White House run.

“We are going to get my husband’s friend JD Vance elected for ’48 in the most resounding way possible,” she told thousands of activists, according to video of her remarks shared online. The crowd erupted in cheers, briefly drowning out the end of her sentence.

Vance, 41, has not announced whether he plans to run for president after President Donald Trump’s current term. Still, many Republican operatives expect that any decision would come after the 2026 midterm elections.

If he does launch a campaign, Turning Point USA could be a significant asset. The nonprofit has grown into a major force in conservative youth organizing and MAGA politics, with a nationwide network of campus chapters, a large digital presence, and a track record of mobilizing activists around candidates.

Vance, a longtime friend of the Kirks, has appeared frequently at Turning Point USA events since Charlie was fatally shot on Sept. 10 at an event at Utah Valley University. He is scheduled to speak Sunday, the final day of AmericaFest.

Erika, 37, has said that Vance and his wife, Usha, have been a source of support since her husband’s death.

“He’s been a blessing,” she told Fox News host Jesse Watters in October. “Him and Usha, they are the most incredible people. Incredible. With such genuine love. I mean, just everything they did for us was so humanized. They just, they were there for us. They’ve been there for us.”

Charlie’s alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with state crimes including aggravated murder and has not yet entered a plea.

Before endorsing Vance, Erika urged attendees to keep their focus on the 2026 midterm elections, arguing that control of Congress would be critical to advancing Trump’s agenda.

“We are building the red wall,” she said. “We’re going to make sure that President Trump has Congress for all four years” of his term.