Charlie Kirk’s family life is coming into focus following his tragic death at 31.
The Turning Point USA co-founder was fatally shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University on September 10, leaving behind his wife, Erika Frantzve Kirk, and their two young children. President Donald Trump was among the first to confirm the news, posting a message on Truth Social to offer condolences.
“He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us,” Trump wrote. “Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family.”
Charlie and Erika’s relationship began in 2018, and he once shared that he knew “almost immediately” she was the one. “I met her and we had a very, very long dinner, which was very close to almost an interview,” he recalled in a June 2024 Turning Point USA video. “You’re gonna laugh, but you should absolutely interview for your spouse.”
A post shared by Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk1776)
The pair got engaged in December 2020 and married in May 2021 in what Erika described as a “very intimate” ceremony without bridesmaids or groomsmen. Sharing wedding photos on Instagram, she wrote, “To the man that I am immeasurably blessed to be able to call my husband. My CJK. I love you.”
A former Miss Arizona USA titleholder, Erika played basketball at Regis University before transferring to Arizona State University to study political science and international relations. She later pursued graduate studies at Liberty University and has worked as the host of the “Midweek Rise Up” podcast, head of the BIBLE365 ministry program, and founder of the faith-based apparel line PROCLAIM.
Erika frequently joined Charlie at events and interviews but maintained a private approach to their home life. The couple welcomed a daughter in August 2022 and a son in May 2024, and they chose not to reveal their children’s names or faces online.
Charlie Kirk, Right-Wing Activist and Media Personality, Dead After Shooting
“In a world where everything is put on social media, where everything is constantly being posted and being talked about,” Charlie said in an Instagram audio clip last month, “we made a decision to keep one thing rather private.”
Still, they occasionally gave small glimpses into family life, sharing moments from baseball games with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs, as well as trips to national parks. On Labor Day, Charlie posted what would become his final photo — a picture holding his infant son outdoors — captioned, “God, family, country. In that order. Happy Labor Day!”
