'Get My Husband's Friend Elected': Erika Kirk Endorses JD Vance For Next US President

Last Updated:December 19, 2025, 15:35 IST

The endorsement comes after a brief wave of online speculation in late 2025, when a video of an emotional hug between Erika Kirk and JD Vance at a Turning Point event went viral.

Erika Kirk and US Vice President JD Vance embrace at the Pavilion at Ole Miss on the campus of the University of Mississippi. (Image Credit: AFP)

Erika Kirk, the chief executive officer of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) and the widow of slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, formally endorsed US Vice President JD Vance for President in 2028, framing the move as a continuation of her late husband’s political mission.

Charlie Kirk was a central figure in US President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement and the founder of Turning Point USA, which has grown into one of the most influential organisations in conservative grassroots politics,.

“We are going to get my husband’s friend JD Vance elected for ’48 in the most resounding way possible," Erika Kirk said while announcing the endorsement.

Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

The endorsement marks the first major institutional backing for JD Vance, who, as the sitting vice president, is widely viewed as the heir apparent to the MAGA movement. The announcement comes during a sombre period for Turning Point USA.

This year’s AmericaFest is the organisation’s first since Charlie Kirk was killed during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. Following his death, Erika Kirk assumed leadership of TPUSA, overseeing a period of consolidation and continued expansion within the ‘America First’ wing of the Republican Party.

Will JD Vance Run For US President In 2028?

JD Vance has not publicly declared his intention to run for US President and is unlikely to make a decision until after the 2026 midterm elections. However, the endorsement from a powerful conservative group that helped galvanise young voters for the Donald Trump–JD Vance ticket in 2024 shows his growing stature within the movement.

Erika Kirk-JD Vance Viral Moment

The endorsement also comes after a brief wave of online speculation in late 2025, when a video of an emotional hug between Erika Kirk and JD Vance at a Turning Point event went viral. Social media users fuelled rumours about their relationship, which both families quickly dismissed.

Erika Kirk described the speculation as “absurd," explaining that she is a physically expressive person and that JD Vance was a close friend of her late husband. Usha Vance, the vice president’s wife, later addressed the rumours, calling them a “family joke".

News world 'Get My Husband's Friend Elected': Erika Kirk Endorses JD Vance For Next US President

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