Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, endorsed Vice President JD Vance for president in 2028 while opening Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference. Nearly two months after a widely shared embrace between the two, Erika — who has assumed leadership of the organization following her husband’s death — appeared on stage at the Phoenix Convention Center on Thursday, Dec. 18, to formally back Vance’s anticipated White House bid.
“We are going to get my husband’s friend JD Vance elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible,” she told thousands of activists, per video of her speech that was posted online. The announcement was met with loud applause, People magazine noted.
Vance, 41, has not said whether he plans to run for president after President Donald Trump’s current term, though Republican strategists widely expect any decision to come after the 2026 midterm elections.
If he does run, Turning Point USA could offer a significant boost. The nonprofit has become a major force in conservative youth organizing and MAGA politics, building substantial influence within the Republican grassroots through its nationwide campus network, expansive digital reach and ability to mobilize activists on behalf of candidates.
The vice president, a longtime friend of the Kirks, has been a frequent presence at Turning Point USA events since Charlie Kirk was fatally shot Sept. 10 at an event at Utah Valley University.
Vance spoke Sunday on the closing day of AmericaFest. Erika, 37, has said that Vance and his wife, Usha, have been a source of support since her husband’s death.
“He’s been a blessing,” she told Fox News host Jesse Watters in October, People noted. “Him and Usha, they are the most incredible people. Incredible. With such genuine love. I mean, just everything they did for us was so humanized. They just, they were there for us. They’ve been there for us.”
Charlie’s alleged shooter, Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with state offenses, including aggravated murder, and has not yet entered a plea.
Before endorsing Vance on Thursday, Erika urged AmericaFest attendees to focus on the 2026 midterm elections, casting control of Congress as key to advancing President Donald Trump’s agenda. “We are building the red wall,” she said. “We’re going to make sure that President Trump has Congress for all four years” of his term.
During his speech, Vance told a fired-up crowd that the “America First” movement is open to people who love their country and are free thinkers.
Vance showed up not long after Erika spoke with entertainment superstar Nicki Minaj, who was a surprise guest. The vice president told the crowd that the political coalition President Trump built is strong enough to get past any disagreements that may arise.
“People of every faith come to our banner because they know that the America First movement will make our lives better,” he went on. “They know Democrats don’t care about anything other than trans-ing their kids.”
Vowing to stand with “every patriot in this room to defend the country we so dearly love,” Vance dismissed conservative infighting that had gone on earlier in the conference, while not naming any of the podcasters or subjects involved.
“President Trump did not build the greatest coalition in politics by running his supporters through endless, self-defeating purity tests,” Vance said, as some of the earlier speakers name-dropped each other amid divisions over Israel, Ukraine aid, and other controversial issues on the right.
“We don’t care if you’re White or Black, rich or poor, young or old, rural or urban, controversial or a little bit boring, or somewhere in between… [P]eople of every faith come to our banner because they know that the America First movement will make their lives better. And they also know that the Democrats don’t care about anything other than maybe trans-ing their kids.”
“So if you love America, if you want all of us to be richer, stronger, safer, and prouder, you have a home on this team,” he added.
