US President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening praised conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed last September, and called him a martyr for his beliefs during his State of the Union address.
The president invited Kirk’s widow, Erica, to be his special guest, prompting “Charlie” chants from the audience as they paid tribute to her late husband.“Last year, Charlie was violently murdered by an assassin and martyred for his beliefs,” Trump said during his speech, as Erika Kirk wiped tears from her face. “His wonderful wife Erika is with us tonight. Erika. Please stand up. Thank you.” “I’ve been through a lot,” USA Today reported. Trump also highlighted increased religious participation among young people, crediting Charlie Kirk’s influence. “I’m very proud to say that during my time in office, both in the first four years, and especially in the last year, there has been a tremendous renewal in religion and faith and Christianity and faith in God. A tremendous renewal. And that’s especially true among young people. A big part of that had to do with my great friend Charlie Kirk,” he said.
He also called for national unity in Kirk’s memory: “In memory of Charlie, we must all come together to reaffirm that we are one nation under God, and we must absolutely reject political violence of any kind.”Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was killed during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, in September 2025. His alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, faces the death penalty in connection with his death.
After the tragedy, Kirk was posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom on his 32nd birthday.Erica Kirk, who was elected CEO and chairman of Turning Point USA after her husband’s death, attended the speech as one of President Trump’s special guests. White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt confirmed her attendance in a post on Channel X, noting that the invitation was part of the administration’s support for the Kirk family, according to Fox News. Erica Kirk, who married Charlie in 2021, is a former NCAA women’s basketball player, LLM graduate and was crowned Miss Arizona USA in 2012. The couple has two children together: a daughter born in August 2022 and a son born in May 2024.
