Erika Kirk shares daughter's touching message for Charlie on his birthday: 'Eat a cupcake'

WASHINGTON, DC: Erika Kirk, the widow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, read out a heartbreakingly innocent birthday message their little girl had for her late father.

The emotional tribute took place on Tuesday night, October 14, during a solemn ceremony where President Donald Trump posthumously awarded Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Charlie Kirk's daughter pens a letter to him

It was supposed to be a night celebrating Charlie Kirk. Taking the stage during the Washington ceremony, Erika spoke to a crowd of supporters who once rallied behind her husband’s conservative mission.

“Before I close, I’ll share with you that I asked our daughter what she would like to say to daddy for his birthday,” Erika said. “She said, ‘Happy birthday, daddy. I want to give you a stuffed animal. I want you to eat a cupcake with ice cream. And I want you to go have a birthday surprise. I love you,’ is what she said.”

Erika noted how their youngest child was too small to speak, but found his own way to show love. “While our son is precious, he can’t yet speak. In classic Kirk family fashion, his actions spoke louder than his words. His gift to you, Charlie, and myself, for that matter, was deciding to become the man of the house and be fully potty trained at 16 months,” she said with a bittersweet laugh.

“But Charlie, baby, I know that you’re celebrating in heaven today. But, gosh, I miss you. We miss you. And we love you. And we promise we’ll make you proud," she added.

Erika reminded everyone that the medal and the movement her husband built were bigger than one man. She urged the crowd to “be the embodiment of this medal” and “stand courageously in the truth.”

“Charlie’s life was proof that freedom is not a theory. It’s a testimony. He showed us that liberty begins not in the halls of power, but in the heart of a man surrendered to God," she said.

“So today, as we honor Charlie with this incredible Presidential Medal of Freedom on his birthday, I stand here with tears and just a humbled heart and spirit because his story reminds us all that to live free is the greatest gift. But to die free is the greatest victory. Happy birthday, my Charlie. Happy Freedom Day," Erika concluded.

Charlie Kirk's death

The outspoken conservative firebrand known for hosting debates about abortion, free speech, and gender ideology was shot and killed on September 10 while debating students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

Videos of the shocking murder spread online within hours, showing the moment a single gunshot rang out mid-debate and struck Kirk as horrified students screamed.

Both Kirk’s supporters and his critics were stunned. After all, the 31-year-old had built Turning Point USA into one of the most influential conservative youth movements in America.

Just 11 days later, on September 21, thousands packed into Arizona’s State Farm Stadium for a remembrance service honoring the late TPUSA founder.

Authorities moved fast following the tragedy. After a nearly two-day manhunt involving federal and local agencies, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was arrested and charged with Kirk’s murder.

Robinson made his first court appearance on September 16.

He is facing a laundry list of charges, including one count of aggravated murder, one count of felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of obstruction of justice for hiding the rifle and discarding clothing, two counts of witness tampering for instructing a roommate to delete texts, and one count of committing a violent offense in front of children.