“She Doesn’t Eat, Doesn’t Drink, Just Holds His Photo and Cries” — Mother of Charlie Kirk Reveals Daughter-in-Law’s Devastating Grief Since Tragic Death
One day after her husband Charlie Kirk was shot dead at age 31 while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University, President Donald Trump shared that he’s spoken to Erika about the tragedy and provided an update on how she’s feeling.
As he told reporters on Sept. 11, per CNN journalist Kaitlan Collins, “She’s absolutely devastated.”
While Erika—who shares a 3-year-old daughter and a 15-month-old son whose names have not been publicly revealed with the conservative activist—has been in contact with the POTUS, she has yet to speak publicly on Charlie’s fatal shooting, which occurred after a suspect fired a gunshot from a building about 200 yards away from where her partner was speaking at the Orem, Utah, school.
Charlie was taken to a hospital shortly after, a spokesperson for the university told NBC News, but Trump confirmed he had died later that day. (A suspect is not in custody in connection with the attack.)
However, dozens of Charlie’s loved ones and other notable figures have spoken out since his passing, including Barack Obama, Chris Pratt, Kamala Harris and Savannah Chrisley.
“I can’t believe I’m even writing these words,” Savannah, who was a longtime friend of Charlie and a member of his conservative youth advocacy group Turning Point USA, wrote on Instagram Sept 10. “Charlie Kirk changed my life…he brought me into the Turning Point family this past year, and I was supposed to be standing next to him at every college this October. Instead, I sit here with a broken heart, devastated beyond words.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr. shared a heartfelt note about his close bond with the right-wing influencer.
“Charlie wasn’t just a friend—he was like a little brother to me—and to millions of people around the world,” the 47-year-old son of Trump and late ex Ivana Trump wrote in a statement on X Sept. 10. “He was a true inspiration.”
Describing Charlie’s passing as “horrible” and “heartbreaking,” he added, “We’ve lost a leader, a fighter, and a man whose character and conviction were rare. Too rare. To think that his life was cut short by a brutal, heinous, evil act is beyond comprehension.”
For more stars who have reacted to Charlie’s passing, keep reading.
Donald Trump
After Charlie Kirk was shot dead at age 31 while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University Sept. 10, 2025, the POTUS confirmed the conservative activist’s death on Truth Social with a heartfelt tribute.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump wrote. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.”
“Such a sad, senseless, and disgusting act!” the Wicked actress wrote on her Instagram Story. “Wow…prayers for teh Kirk family and prayers for our nation.”
