Erika Kirk has shared a deeply moving Thanksgiving message-her first since the tragic death of her husband, Charlie Kirk-and her words have struck an emotional chord nationwide. Charlie, the founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated on September 10, leaving behind Erika and their young children. As the holiday approached, Erika acknowledged that this Thanksgiving carried a weight unlike any other, yet her message emphasized gratitude, faith, and the extraordinary kindness she has experienced from around the world.
"God blessed me with being married to the love of my life, with our beautiful babies, with our family and friends, and with people from all over the world who have sent us letters, toys, artwork, and Bibles," she wrote in a post shared widely across social media. She said that every gesture-every prayer, every handwritten note, every Bible mailed from a stranger's hands-has reminded her of how deeply supported her family is, even in the midst of unimaginable grief. Accompanying the message was a video in which she opened dozens of letters and packages that had arrived from across the globe. Erika noted that she is saving every single item so her children will one day understand how much love surrounded their family after their father's death.
This Thanksgiving marked the first major holiday her children have spent without their father, and Erika has spoken openly about how she explains that absence to them. She has told them she believes Charlie is in heaven "orchestrating blessings" for them, watching over them, and ensuring that they are never without reminders of his love. In her message, she described how easily grief can eclipse gratitude, yet how powerfully God has met her in weakness. "It's easy to fixate on what's been taken, at what's missing," she wrote. "But my goodness does the Lord meet me in my weakness, and His strength gently shifts my eyes to what I still have on this side of heaven."
Her Thanksgiving reflection also comes at a time when Erika has stepped into a new chapter of public leadership. Following Charlie's death, she assumed the role of CEO and board chair of Turning Point USA, an enormous responsibility that has drawn national attention. As reported by The Washington Post, Erika has emerged as a new kind of political widow-one characterized not by retreat, but by confident, faith-driven activism. Her first public comments after the assassination, delivered in a live address from TPUSA headquarters, emphasized resilience and determination. According to The Wall Street Journal, she vowed that her husband's voice would not fade and that she would continue the work he believed in so passionately.
In the weeks since, Erika has also been honored publicly for continuing Charlie's legacy, receiving the inaugural "Charlie Kirk Legacy" award at the 2025 Fox Nation Patriot Awards. There, she stated that she intends to keep "speaking the truth" no matter the challenges ahead. The Thanksgiving message reflects that same resolve-a mixture of sorrow, strength, and unwavering faith.
As she looked ahead to the holiday meal, Erika closed her Thanksgiving reflection with a line that has been shared widely across platforms for its tenderness and simplicity: "We'll save a plate for you, babe." It is both a tribute and a vow, capturing the love that remains and the hope she carries into the future.
