Erika Kirk insisted on seeing Charlie's body after his death: ‘He was in heaven’

Erika Kirk insisted on seeing her husband Charlie Kirk’s body after his death, describing his 'Mona Lisa-like half-smile' and how she is coping deeply
PUBLISHED SEP 21, 2025
Erika Kirk shared how she pleaded with Charlie Kirk to wear a bulletproof vest, but he refused, trusting his security and the event’s protection(Instagram/@mrserikakirk)
Erika Kirk shared how she pleaded with Charlie Kirk to wear a bulletproof vest, but he refused, trusting his security and the event’s protection(Instagram/@mrserikakirk)

GLENDALE, ARIZONA: Erika Kirk, newly named chair of Turning Point USA, has opened up about the painful moments following the shooting death of her husband, Charlie Kirk.

Despite being urged to stay away, she insisted on seeing his body at the hospital, describing it as her final chance to say goodbye.

Erika Kirk says Charlie Kirk has 'Mona Lisa-like half-smile' after death

Erika, in an interview with The New York Times, remembered what followed after the shooting.

She said a sheriff urged her not to see her husband’s body because the bullet had gone through his neck.

“With all due respect, I want to see what they did to my husband,” she said, describing how she kissed him goodbye at the hospital.

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)

“His eyes were semi-open, and he had this knowing, Mona Lisa-like half-smile. Like he’d died happy. Like Jesus rescued him. The bullet came, he blinked, and he was in heaven,” Erika said.

Erika Kirk reveal she is coping husband Charlie Kirk's death by feeling deeply 

In the interview, Erika revealed how worried they were about him. Even during one dinner conversation, Erika pleaded with her husband to wear a bulletproof vest, but he declined.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Charlie Kirk (R) and and his wife Erika Lane Frantzve (L) on stage during the Turning Point USA Inaugural-Eve Ball at the Salamander Hotel on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
Charlie Kirk and his wife Erika Lane Frantzve on stage during the Turning Point USA Inaugural-Eve Ball at the Salamander Hotel on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

After this, her friend suggested bulletproof glass, to which Charlie said, “Not yet,” Erika recalled him saying, before adding that he trusted his security team and the extra protection at the Utah Valley University event.

Erika explained how she has been coping with her husband’s death. “I’m allowing myself to feel this so deeply,” she said, adding, “without medication, without alcohol. The Lord is giving me discernment.”

MORE STORIES

Elizabeth Warren slammed Trump for going easy on billionaires while making life for ordinary Americans difficult
7 hours ago
A dominant force in Republican politics for decades, Dick Cheney’s career spanned four presidencies
7 hours ago
The former moderate-turned-MAGA firebrand stood before reporters Monday and blasted what she called the 'fake news' for twisting the story
8 hours ago
Candace Owens criticized Kash Patel for defending his girlfriend publicly, saying the FBI chief’s actions show 'we are just not a serious nation'
9 hours ago
Erika Kirk shared that her daughter keeps asking about her late father and believes they’ll reunite with him in Heaven one day
10 hours ago
NBC News' Kristen Welker asked Gavin Newsom about his tactics of trolling Donald Trump and whether he runs the risk of normalizing that behavior
10 hours ago
Bernie Sanders said the Democratic Party lacks grassroots involvement and is dominated by people at the top, calling democracy 'kind of messy'
11 hours ago
Thomas Massie and Carolyn Grace Moffa celebrated a Christian wedding in Pennsylvania as they began a new journey after his late wife’s passing
12 hours ago
In the press conference, Jennifer Siebel Newsom also called Donald Trump a 'con artist' and 'the worst president in our nation’s history'
12 hours ago
Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) mocked Donald Trump’s ICE remarks, saying, 'Haven’t gone far enough?? Any further and ICE will be deporting Melania'
12 hours ago