Bari Weiss calls Erika Kirk a ‘deeply religious Christian’, highlights her forgiveness

'Bearing witness to something that in her is, clearly, very deeply held and sincere was quite powerful for everyone in the audience,' Bari Weiss said
Bari Weiss weighed in on her conversation with Erika Kirk during an appearance on 'CBS Mornings' (@ShadowofEzra/X, Getty Images)
Bari Weiss weighed in on her conversation with Erika Kirk during an appearance on 'CBS Mornings' (@ShadowofEzra/X, Getty Images)


NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, has quickly become a recognizable figure to the public. Her gestures, statements, and thought process on various topics have highlighted resilience, grounded in faith and forgiveness.

Bari Weiss, editor at CBS News, described Erika as elevating her role as the current chairperson of Turning Point USA, portraying her almost as a religious figure. Weiss noted that the 37-year-old is “a deeply religious Christian" with sincerely held faith.

Erika Kirk speaks during the memorial service for her husband, political activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on September 10th while speaking at an event during his
Erika Kirk speaks during the memorial service for her husband, political activist Charlie Kirk, at State Farm Stadium on September 21, 2025, in Glendale, Arizona (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Erika Kirk’s faith and resilience leave a lasting impression on Bari Weiss 

Bari Weiss speaks onstage during Book Club Event With Peggy Noonan on November 19, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for The Free Press)
Bari Weiss speaks onstage during Book Club Event With Peggy Noonan on November 19, 2024, in New York City (Noam Galai/Getty Images for The Free Press)

Bari Weiss spoke about the profound impact Erika Kirk had on the audience during an interaction with the 'CBS Mornings' show. 

“I'm not Christian, but bearing witness to something that in her is, clearly, very deeply held and sincere was quite powerful for everyone in the audience,” she said. “I think the thing that was baffling for many of us who watched that. I mean, I remember watching it and thinking, I can't understand this." 

"What does this mean? She was able to explain the distinction between forgiveness as a personal choice, to almost let go of something so it doesn’t become an anvil around her and forgiveness in the mode of her fate, and to make a distinction between that and her desire for justice, which is quite different,” the editor-in-chief of CBS News added. 

“It doesn't mean that she forgives; it doesn't mean that she does not want this alleged murderer to be held accountable. And I think that's the really, really important distinction. Well, she is a deeply religious Christian, and that's a theme that came across quite powerfully in the conversation,” Weiss concluded.

Erika Kirka forgives husband Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer 



Erika Kirk stunned the audience when she said she forgives the man accused of killing her husband. "That man, that young man... I forgive him," she said, wiping away tears as the crowd at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, gave her a standing ovation.

"I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do," she added. "The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us."

Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his
Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his 'American Comeback Tour' when he was shot in the neck and killed (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

She was talking about 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who was arrested in connection with the murder of the Turning Point USA founder in Utah.

Even after such a huge personal loss, Erika has kept showing up, whether in interviews or at TPUSA events with Vice President JD Vance. At 37, raising two young children on her own, she’s been open about her faith, her grief, and the way she’s leaning on God to get through the hardest days.

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