JD Vance: 'I'll Never Forget' What Erika Kirk Told Me the Day After Charlie's Death

Vice President J.D. Vance opened up Monday about a powerful conversation he had with Erika Kirk, widow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, that left him personally convicted to be a stronger husband and father.

Vance shared the story while guest-hosting The Charlie Kirk Show. He recalled traveling with his wife, Usha, aboard Air Force Two last Thursday to Utah, where they accompanied Erika and the Kirk family in bringing Charlie’s remains home to Phoenix.

“It was heartbreaking and it was sad and it was terrible, but what an honor it was for me and my family to be welcomed into the Kirk inner circle in their moment of grief,” Vance said.

He remembered telling Erika: “He loved you so much. He died way too young, but he died a happy man because of you, because of the family that you gave him, because of the home and the life that you guys had built together.”

Charlie and Erika married in 2021 and are the parents of two young children, ages 1 and 3.

Vance admitted that, despite his career in public speaking, he was at a loss for words when it came to consoling Erika. Instead, they spent time sharing stories about Charlie — his quirks, his humor, and his heart.

It was during that conversation, Vance said, that Erika shared something unforgettable: “Charlie never raised his voice. That he never cussed at her. That he was never cross or mean-spirited.”

Reflecting on his own marriage, Vance admitted, “I think, on the great balance of things, that I’m a pretty good husband, but I can never say that I was never unpleasant with my wife. I can never say that I’ve never raised my voice to my wife. Like most husbands, even the good ones, we’re sometimes imperfect.”

“I took from that moment that I needed to be a better husband, and I needed to be a better father,” the vice president continued.

Vance grew emotional as he spoke about how Charlie’s death has reminded him to cherish every moment with his own wife and children. He concluded: “Maybe the best way that I can contribute and the best way that I can honor my dear friend is to be the best husband that I can be, be the kind of husband to my wife that he was to his.”

This wasn’t the first time Erika highlighted the depth of her late husband’s character. In a December 2024 interview with Sage Steele at America Fest in Phoenix, she recalled Charlie’s daily question to her: “How can I be praying for you? How can I make your day better?” She would respond by asking, “What do you need at home?” — a mutual commitment to building a marriage rooted in faith, service, and love.

Vance praised Erika’s bravery in her public remarks last Friday, saying she demonstrated both “raw grief and incredible courage.”

“You see this raw grief and incredible courage, all in the same moment, and that’s what we need right now,” Vance said. “We need to grieve, but we also need this courage in this moment, more than we’ve ever needed it.”