By Jordan KingShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberErika Kirk has addressed all the online chatter about her hug with Vice President JD Vance, saying that her “love language is touch.”
Images of Charlie Kirk’s widow and Vance embracing on stage at a Turning Point USA tour stop at the University of Mississippi last month sparked debate on social media.
Speculation about whether something was going on between the pair was so rife that Erika Kirk addressed them while on the Megyn Kelly Live show in Glendale, Arizona.
Why It Matters
The reaction to Erika Kirk's embrace with Vance reflects growing scrutiny of national political figures' personal lives and relationships.
The incident also underscores the amplified public interest in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death, with Erika Kirk’s leadership and personal mourning unfolding on a national stage.
What To Know
The widely discussed hug occurred during a Turning Point USA event in Mississippi on October 29.
Erika Kirk, in her first major appearance as Turning Point CEO, introduced Vance by comparing him to her late husband.
“No one will ever replace my husband,” Erika Kirk said during her speech. “But I do see some similarities of my husband in JD—in Vice President JD Vance. I do. And that's why I am so blessed to be able to introduce him tonight”
After sharing an embrace on stage, during which Erika Kirk placed her hand on the back of Vance’s head and the vice president's hands rested briefly on her waist, social media users dissected the gesture.
...The spread of online speculation was further fueled by subsequent images of Usha Vance, the second lady, appearing without her wedding ring at a public event, which spurred unfounded rumors about the status of the Vances’ marriage.
Kelly asked Erika Kirk to address this when she said: “Did you see people didn’t really understand the hug that you and JD had?”
Erika Kirk burst out laughing and said: “Whoever is hating on a hug needs a hug themselves—I will give you a free hug any time you want a hug. My love language is touch, if you will.”
She then went on to give a play-by-play of what happened when she and Vance hugged.
"I'm walking over, he's walking over,” she said, “I'm starting to cry, he says 'he's so proud of you,' and I say 'God bless you,' and I touch the back of his head.”
Erika Kirk went on to reveal that “one of the last few conversations” she had with her husband was about “how intentional [Charlie Kirk] was about supporting JD.”
Is Erika Kirk Pregnant?
Erika Kirk is not pregnant, but she told Kelly that she was “praying to God that [she] was pregnant when he [Charlie Kirk] got murdered” because the couple had wanted to have four children.
“That would be the ultimate blessing out of his catastrophe,” she said.
“So now when I see young couples, I tell them, ‘Please don’t put it off, especially if you’re a young woman, don’t put it off—you can always have a career, you can always go back to work, you can never just go back to having children,’ and they grow so fast and so quickly.”
What People Are Saying
Megyn Kelly joked about the response to Erika Kirk’s hug with JD Vance: “They were acting like you touched the back of his a**!”
Erika Kirk responded: “I feel like I wouldn’t get as much hate if I did that."
Usha Vance’s spokesperson also responded to divorce rumors circulating after the second lady was spotted without her wedding ring on, telling People magazine: “The second lady is a mother of three young children, who does a lot of dishes, gives lots of baths and forgets her ring sometimes.”
What Happens Next
Continued scrutiny of the personal lives of public figures like Erika Kirk and Vance appears inevitable given the current political climate and high-volume social media commentary.
Usha Vance remains active alongside her husband and in charitable initiatives, with her spokesperson emphasizing routine family matters to dispel sensational rumors.
Meanwhile, Erika Kirk has continued to express herself publicly and has exhibited similar gestures of affection in other public settings, moving forward in her role at Turning Point USA.
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