Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, was named the brand new CEO and chair of the board for Turning Level USA after her husband — the founding father of the group — was killed on Sept. 10, the board introduced on Thursday.
“It was the respect of our lives to function board members at Charlie’s facet. Charlie ready all of us for a second like this one. He labored tirelessly to make sure Turning Level USA was constructed to outlive even the best assessments. And now, it’s our nice satisfaction to announce Erika Kirk as the brand new CEO and Chair of the Board for Turning Level USA,” the board introduced in a letter shared on X on Thursday.
The board “unanimously elected” Erika Kirk, saying that “in prior discussions, Charlie expressed to a number of executives that that is what he needed within the occasion of his dying.”
Charlie Kirk and and his spouse Erika Lane Frantzve throughout the Turning Level USA Inaugural-Eve Ball, January 19, 2025 in Washington.
Samuel Corum/Getty Photos
Erika Kirk is scheduled to talk at her late husband’s memorial service on Sunday in Arizona alongside President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and others.
The Division of Homeland Safety has designated Charlie Kirk’s memorial service as a Particular Occasion Evaluation Ranking Degree 1 occasion, which is “reserved for occasions of the very best nationwide significance,” a division official mentioned.
Along with Erika Kirk — who was a frequent presence by her husband’s facet at talking engagements and public appearances — Charlie Kirk additionally leaves behind two kids, a son who turned 1 in Could and a daughter who turned 3 in August.
In her first public message since her husband’s dying, Erika Kirk mentioned “nobody will ever overlook my husband’s identify.”
“You haven’t any thought the fireplace that you’ve got ignited inside this spouse, the cries of this widow will echo around the globe like a battle cry,” Erika Kirk mentioned Sept. 12.
The conservative influencer was shot and killed on Sept. 10 whereas talking at an outside occasion at Utah Valley College in Orem, Utah.
After a two-day manhunt, Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested for allegedly taking pictures Charlie Kirk and charged on Tuesday with a slew of offenses, together with aggravated homicide, with prosecutors saying the intent to hunt the dying penalty.
He was additionally charged with felony discharge of a firearm inflicting severe physique harm, obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering and fee of violent offense within the presence of a kid, Utah County Lawyer Jeff Grey introduced on Tuesday.
Tyler James Robinson attends a digital courtroom listening to from Utah County Jail, September 16, 2025 in Spanish Fork, Utah.
Utah State Courts by way of Getty Photos
Robinson additionally made his first courtroom look on Tuesday. His subsequent listening to is scheduled for Sept. 29.
Earlier than he turned himself in to authorities, Robinson’s dad and mom requested him why he dedicated this crime, to which he allegedly mentioned “there’s an excessive amount of evil and the man [Charlie Kirk] spreads an excessive amount of hate,” in line with charging paperwork.
The suspect additionally allegedly texted his roommate after the taking pictures that he “had sufficient of this hatred.”
“Some hate cannot be negotiated out,” one of many messages learn.
Precisely what Robinson was allegedly referring to by “hate” was not clear. Investigators famous that Robinson’s mother advised them that her son allegedly started having a relationship together with his roommate, who’s transitioning, and had begun leaning to the left extra politically, turning into “extra pro-gay and trans-rights oriented,” however the doc doesn’t point out the relevance of these stances or whether or not Kirk’s remarks about these points had been a motivating issue.
Grey mentioned he would let a decide decide whether or not the statements allegedly made constituted a confession. He declined to touch upon whether or not Robinson has been cooperating or spoken to investigators.
A person locations flowers at a makeshift memorial as college students return to courses at Utah Valley College following the killing of commentator Charlie Kirk in Orem, Utah, September 17, 2025.
Jim Urquhart/Reuters
FBI Director Kash Patel mentioned the FBI is investigating “anybody and everybody” concerned in a chat on Discord — a bunch chat messaging platform — the place the suspect despatched messages two hours earlier than he was taken into custody, admitting he shot the conservative influencer.
“Hey guys, I’ve unhealthy information for you all…It was me at UVU yesterday. im sorry for all of this,” one of many messages learn.
Patel mentioned there are “much more” than 20 folks linked to Robinson on Discord and that the FBI is “working all of them down. He added {that a} “variety of people” are presently being investigated.
College students at Utah Valley College, the place the taking pictures occurred, returned to campus on Wednesday, one week after the conservative influencer was killed.
ABC Information’ Will Steakin and Luke Barr contributed to this report.
