Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika, named CEO of Turning Point USA

Erika Kirk, widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has been appointed as the new CEO and chair of the board for Turning Point USA, the organization announced Thursday.

The late Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed last week during a public event, had reportedly expressed that he wanted his wife to take over leadership in the event of his death.

In an official statement, Turning Point USA said, “In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon wrote that mankind is to be tested by God. Today we are facing such a test, yet we also know that God has prepared us with everything we need to overcome this ordeal. It was the honor of our lives to serve as board members at Charlie’s side. Charlie prepared all of us for a moment like this one. He worked tirelessly to ensure Turning Point USA was built to survive even the greatest tests. And now, it is our great pride to announce Erika Kirk as the new CEO and Chair of the Board for Turning Point USA.”

The Turning Point Board has unanimously elected Erika Kirk as the new CEO and Chair of the Board.

In prior discussions, Charlie expressed to multiple executives that this is what he wanted in the event of his death. pic.twitter.com/PazORgiHWP

— Turning Point USA (@TPUSA) September 18, 2025

The statement continued, “All of us at Turning Point USA have a special role in carrying Charlie Kirk’s mantle and completing his vision of bringing us all closer to our Lord and fostering a prosperous country for generations to come. As Charlie always said, ‘We have a country to save.’ We will not surrender or kneel before evil. We will carry on. The attempt to destroy Charlie’s work will become our chance to make it more powerful and enduring than ever before.”

Charlie Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 and grew it into one of the most influential conservative organizations in the United States, inspiring young Americans to support President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement. The organization has also faced controversy, including a 2017 New Yorker article highlighting allegations of discrimination against minority staff members.

Erika Kirk holds degrees in political science and international relations from Arizona State University (ASU), a juris master’s from Liberty University (2017), and a doctorate in Christian leadership (2022). She owns the faith-based fashion brand Proclaim Streetwear and has a background in acting, modeling, and collegiate athletics. She won Miss Arizona USA in 2012 and played basketball at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. She and Charlie Kirk were married in May 2021.

A public memorial service for Charlie Kirk is scheduled for September 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Several prominent figures, including Donald Trump, JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are expected to attend. Trump also announced plans to posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, after missing the Sunday night vigil in Washington, D.C.