Charlie Kirk and Wife Erika's Relationship Revisited — From Their First Meeting to the Activist's Death

Charlie Kirk and his wife, Erika, had been together for seven years before tragedy struck their family.

In a 2023 Instagram post, Erika opened up about her first meeting with Charlie at Bill's Burgers in New York City. They reportedly had a "deep in conversation and banter over theology, philosophy and politics and at the end, [Charlie] paused, looked at [her] and said, 'I'm going to date you.'"

The right-wing activist previously shared he knew she was the one when they had a "very, very long dinner, which was very close to almost an interview."

"You should absolutely interview for your spouse," Charlie said in a 2024 Turning Point USA video. "By the way, if they don't check the boxes, move on and go to the next one. Dating for dating's sake is bad for you. It's bad for them. It's bad for everybody. You should date with the intent to marry."

Just before the 2020 holidays, Erika announced their engagement on Instagram.

"...when God writes your love story, you get to marry your best friend," she captioned the post, which featured Charlie getting down on one knee.

Charlie and Erika sealed their union with a kiss during a ceremony in Scottsdale, Ariz., on May 8, 2021.

Two months later, she gushed about her husband and shared how her life had changed since meeting him.

"I knew that, with the way we were living our life and how obedient we were [to God] in certain aspects and how intentional we were, we would have [God's] favor," she said in an August 2021 interview. "I didn't know it would be this unbelievable amount of blessings in front of us, and on us, and favor on us."

Charlie and Erika became parents for the first time when they welcomed their first child, a daughter, in August 2022.

In May 2024, Charlie and Erika's second child, a son, was born.

"Charlie loved his children and he loved me with all of his heart and I knew that every day," she said in a livestream the same month.

Erika continued, "He made sure I knew that every day. Every day he would ask me, 'How can I serve you better? How can I be a better husband? How can I be a better father?'… He was such a good man. He still is such a good man. He was the perfect father. He was the perfect husband."

The Turning Point USA co-founder was fatally shot while hosting his The American Comeback Tour's Prove Me Wrong Table at Utah Valley University on September 10. He was 31.

Graphic videos from the scene showed Charlie falling back to his left side after the bullet struck his neck. He was taken to Timpanogos Regional Hospital, where he was later declared dead.

"It's with a heavy heart that we, the Turning Point USA leadership team, write to notify you that early this afternoon, Charlie went to his eternal reward with Jesus Christ in Heaven," the organization said in a statement.

Charlie's accused killer, Tyler Robinson, remains in custody after he was charged with aggravated murder.