Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, is pushing back against online speculation over an emotional moment she shared with U.S. Vice President JD Vance—saying the people attacking her “probably need a hug themselves.”

Appearing on The Megyn Kelly Show, Kirk laughed off the commentary surrounding a widely shared clip of her hugging Vance at a public event.

When Kelly asked whether she had seen people “who didn’t understand the hug,” the Turning Point USA CEO rolled her eyes and replied, “Oh my gosh, please! Anyone who knows me knows—I hug. And those hating on a hug probably need a hug themselves. I’ll give you a free hug anytime. My love language is touch.”

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What Happened During the Viral Moment?

Kirk explained the sequence leading up to the emotional embrace, which took place as she introduced Vance on stage.

“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—something I do with anyone I hug,” she said.

In the viral footage, Vance appears to place his hands on her waist as she gently runs her fingers through his hair. The visual quickly became fodder for online speculation, with some interpreting the moment as overly intimate.

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Kirk dismissed the reactions, saying, “If you’ve ever hugged me, I’ve done that. If people want to take that out of context, go ahead. To me, that just shows you need a hug more than anyone else.”

Kelly joked, “They were acting like you touched the back of his arse!”
Kirk laughed, replying, “Honestly, I feel like I wouldn’t get as much hate if I did that.”

Erika Kirk Reflects on Charlie Kirk

The moment with Vance also came shortly after Kirk watched an emotional tribute video to her late husband.

“Sorry, guys, just give me a second,” she said through tears. “This is the longest video I’ve watched of him.”

Earlier in a Fox News interview, Kirk said that while “no one could ever replace” Charlie Kirk, she sees certain traits in JD Vance that remind her of him. Their emotional hug appeared to stem from that shared sense of connection.

A Look at the Kirk Family

Erika and Charlie Kirk married in 2021. The couple welcomed their daughter in 2022 and their son in 2024. Charlie Kirk, a well-known conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, passed away earlier this year.