Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative icon and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, has responded to those who criticized her viral, now-infamous hug with Vice President JD Vance as being inappropriate.
The hug took place last month at a Turning Point USA event honoring her late husband, at which both Erika and Vance spoke.
As a tribute video played, Erika Kirk introduced Vance onstage.
She walked toward him as he approached the stage. They briefly hugged, and Kirk placed her hand on the back of Vance’s head.
Though it was short, the internet absolutely exploded, posting screenshots and questioning if the gesture was too intimate and inappropriate.
‘No one will replace my husband, but I do see similarities in JD’
Charlie Kirk’s widow Erika is under attack for her ‘closeness’ with VP Vance after a hug at a TPUSA event
People online are now claiming Vance will divorce his wife Usha for Erika ahead of a 2028 run pic.twitter.com/VBicHfq8XU
— RT (@RT_com) November 2, 2025
“I don’t care what anyone says – this is not how you hug your friend”
Man questions the nature of JD Vance & Erika Kirk’s relationship.
That hand movement though. pic.twitter.com/z6SRr6JX1v
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) November 2, 2025
Others pointed out that Kirk has been seen hugging Vance’s wife, Usha, in the same way.
Erika Kirk hugging JD Vance
vs
Erika Kirk hugging JD Vance Wife(Spoiler Alert: they’re the same) pic.twitter.com/K0XkCP2CQc
— Ole Murica (@OleMurica) November 2, 2025
Kelly asked Kirk about the embrace during her Megyn Kelly Live event over the weekend.
Kirk did not shy away in her response.
“Whoever is hating on a hug needs a hug themselves. I will give you a free hug anytime you need a hug. My love language is touch, if you will,” Kirk responded.
“They just played the emotional video. I’m walking over, he’s walking over. I’m starting to cry,” she stated.
Kirk recalled Vance telling her, “I’m so proud of you,” to which she responded, “God bless you,” and placed her hand on his head.
“Anyone whom I have hugged, that I have touched the back of your head when I hug you, I always say, ‘God bless you,’” Kirk explained. “That’s just me. If you want to take that out of context, go right ahead.”
The widow and mother of two said that her love language is “touch.”
Kelly joked that commentators had acted like she had grabbed the vice president’s “ass.”
“I feel like I wouldn’t get as much hate if I did that!” Kirk replied.
WATCH:
.@MrsErikaKirk addresses the uproar over the JD Vance hug:
“Whoever is hating on a hug needs a hug themselves… I’m walking over, he’s walking over, 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… If you want… pic.twitter.com/0PwB1SwNNS
— The Megyn Kelly Show (@MegynKellyShow) November 24, 2025
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