'Laid down his life for me, our nation': Charlie Kirk's wife Erika pays tribute; told 3-year-old 'daddy's on a work trip with Jesus'

At an emotional news conference on Friday, Erika Kirk spoke publicly for the first time since the assasination of her husband, conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk.At the beginning, Erika addressed US president Donald Trump and said, “My husband loved you, and he knew you loved him too. Your friendship was amazing.”She thanked vice president JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance for standing by her family. “You honoured my husband so well, bringing him home. You are tremendous,” she said, calling them “dear friends” of her husband. Erika, who fought back tears several times during her address, further said her husband “laid down his life for me, for our nation, for our children,” and prayed that “Charlie be received into the merciful arms of Jesus, our loving Saviour.”Speaking about his life, she recalled how Charlie wanted to be remembered for “his courage and his faith.” She said he loved America, nature, and sports, especially the Chicago Cubs and Oregon Ducks.But above all, “Charlie loved his children, and he loved me with all of his heart, and I knew that every day,” she added.Erika recalled how two days ago, her husband went to see "the face of his saviour and his God." "One of the last conversations he had on this earth was witnessing for his lord and saviour, Jesus Christ,” she said.She also called out those responsible for his killing. “The evildoers who assassinated my husband have no idea what they have done. They killed Charlie because he preached a message of patriotism, faith, and God’s merciful love. If you thought his mission was powerful before, you have no idea what you have unleashed across this country and within this wife,” she said.“In a world filled with chaos, doubt and uncertainty, my husband’s voice will remain and it will ring out louder and more clearly than ever and his wisdom will endure,” she said.Erika also spoke directly to her late husband, saying, “Charlie, baby. Charlie, I promise, I will never let your legacy die. I won’t. I’ll make TPUSA the biggest thing this nation has ever seen. I promise. Charlie, I love you. I love you, baby. Rest in the arms of our lord.”Erika also shared the painful moment of telling her three-year-old daughter why her father was not coming home. “Where’s daddy?” What do you tell a 3-year-old? I said, “Baby, daddy loves you so much. He’s on a work trip with Jesus," Erika said.Erika praised local, state and federal authorities for moving quickly to capture the suspect in Kirk’s killing. “They worked tirelessly to capture my husband’s assassin so that he could be brought to justice,” she said. Charlie Kirk, co-founder of the conservative youth group Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon.