The late right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has broken her silence after a viral video showed the newly appointed Turning Point USA CEO crying amid the shooting that broke out at this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
“Saturday was yet another traumatic example of the evil in our country and the continued rise in political violence,” Erika, 37, wrote via X on Monday, April 27. “I’m taking time to spend with my family.”
Erika continued, “I will be joining The Charlie Kirk Show Wednesday at 12PM ET to briefly address what took place. Enough is enough.”
During the annual Saturday, April 25, event — meant to celebrate the first amendment — shots rang out after a 31-year-old gunman rushed a security checkpoint outside the Washington Hilton ballroom. The shooter, who was later identified to be a California man, engineer and part-time teacher, was swiftly apprehended. He was arraigned on Monday, charged with two federal gun crimes and one charge of attempting to assassinate President Trump.
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A Secret Service agent was shot in the chest during the incident, but survived thanks to his ballistic vest. He was released from the hospital that evening and reportedly sent home.
President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, White House press secretary Karoline Levitt and other prominent members of the Trump administration were all swiftly evacuated during the shooting.
No one else was physically harmed.
Shortly after the shooting, footage of Erika went viral, showing the widow crying as she left the premises while telling security personnel, “I just want to go home.” CNN also reported on Saturday night that she could be seen crying as the chaos unfolded, with news anchor Sara Sidneer saying on air that she personally witnessed Erika exiting the main ballroom while expressing her desire to leave the building.
Us Weekly reached out to representatives for Erika at the time for comment.
Erika’s husband was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10, 2025. He was 31 years old. A 22-year-old man was later apprehended in connection with the shooting and charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice and witness tampering. He has yet to enter a plea.
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While many publicly expressed their support and concern for Erika following the shooting and in the wake of her husband’s public assassination, others condemned her appearance at the event and subsequent, emotional reaction to the gun violence.
“Erika Kirk leaving the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in tears [saying], ‘I just wanna go home,” Selling Sunset star Christine Quinn wrote via X on Saturday. “Girl … you literally never been home.”
