Nationwide — Trump paid tribute to the late Charlie Kirk during Tuesday’s State of the Union, stressing that political violence must never be accepted. His wife, Erika Kirk, was visibly emotional as the audience applauded her husband’s memory.
The president called Charlie his “great friend” and recounted the tragic moments of his death, pausing as the camera showed Erika wiping away tears, according to TMZ. Members of Congress stood and applauded while Trump urged the nation to remain “one nation, under God” and reject violence of any kind.
Charlie Kirk died in September 2025 after being shot during a Q&A session at Utah Valley University in Orem. The shooting happened amid a crowd of students and protesters, and he was rushed to a hospital where he later passed away. Trump publicly acknowledged Charlie’s death on social media soon after the incident.
Kirk was known as a conservative commentator and a strong supporter of Trump, promoting election fraud claims after the 2020 election. He also testified before a House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riots, while his team provided thousands of documents, but invoking the Fifth on several questions.
Charlie is survived by Erika and their two young children. Erika has since stepped in as CEO of Charlie’s non-profit, Turning Point USA, continuing his work while keeping his memory alive.