Charlie Kirk's loved ones are immersed in profound grief. Following the tragic and fatal shooting of the co-founder of Turning Point USA during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University on September 10, a wave of heartfelt tributes flooded social media in honor of the 31-year-old. Indeed, it was President Donald Trump who first confirmed the somber news of Charlie's passing, extending his heartfelt condolences to Charlie's wife, Erika Frantzve Kirk, and their two young children—a daughter born in August 2022 and a son born in May 2024. "He was cherished and revered by ALL, especially by me, and now, he is no longer among us," the "Apprentice" alum penned on Truth Social. "Melania and I send our deepest sympathies to his beautiful wife Erika and her family."
The conservative activist and former Miss Arizona USA winner first crossed paths in 2018, and Charlie knew "almost instantly" that Erika was the one for him. "I met her, and we had an incredibly long dinner, which felt almost like an interview," he recounted in a June 2024 Turning Point USA video. "You'll laugh, but you should definitely 'interview' for your spouse."
The couple then became engaged in December 2020 before exchanging vows in May 2021 in a "very intimate" ceremony devoid of bridesmaids or groomsmen. "To the man I am immeasurably blessed to call my husband," Erika wrote on Instagram after their wedding, accompanying the post with pictures from their special day. "My CJK. I love you."
On their journey to parenthood, Charlie and Erika made the "tough" choice to keep their daughter's arrival a secret. "In a world where everything is shared on social media, where everything is constantly posted and discussed," Charlie shared in an Instagram audio clip last month, "we decided to keep one thing rather private."
That commitment to safeguarding their children's privacy has only deepened since their daughter's arrival, as Charlie and Erika have refrained from sharing their kids' names and faces on social media. Nonetheless, they have frequently chronicled their family outings.
Ten days prior to Charlie's untimely death, the Kirk family attended an Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game, a regular pastime for them, as they had also enjoyed a Chicago Cubs game in March. And in tribute to Labor Day, Charlie shared his final Instagram photo with his family, posting a snapshot with his son at a National Park. "God, family, country. In that order," he captioned the Instagram photo. "Happy Labor Day!"
