Hundreds of students gathered Wednesday night at the University of Mississippi to hear from Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk, just seven weeks after the tragic assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk. The event, hosted by Turning Point USA as part of its campus tour, was a tribute to Charlie’s legacy and a call to courage for the next generation.
Erika Kirk spoke to a packed room with a message centered on faith, purpose, and personal responsibility. Her late husband, Charlie, was the founder and longtime leader of Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization focused on engaging students in the ideas of limited government, free markets, and American values. He was allegedly targeted and killed at a public event in Utah earlier this year. The investigation into his murder is still ongoing.
Kirk’s remarks were deeply personal. She shared how Charlie built his day around a morning routine that helped guide his actions and mindset. On his side of the bedroom, Erika had placed a sign with a Bible-inspired quote that read, “They will be known by the boldness of their faith.” She said she didn’t fully understand the weight of that phrase until she returned to their bedroom for the first time after Charlie’s death.
“When Charlie would get to his desk, he asked himself three questions,” Kirk explained to the audience. “What is something I can do for someone today? What is something I can do to add value to the world today? And how can I honor God today?” According to Erika, these questions were his foundation — a daily practice of selflessness and faith that shaped how he approached each day.
She told students that courage isn’t something people are simply born with. It’s something they can build through small, intentional acts. Erika said Charlie’s routine — combined with his faith — gave him the strength to stand firm in his beliefs, even when it was hard.
“What I’m realizing with that is those were the action points of how to have courage,” she said. “Because you can ask me, ‘Well, how do I become courageous?’ Ask yourself those three questions every single day, and I promise you, you will get courage.”
Kirk also emphasized the shortness of life and the importance of living with meaning. “What death amplifies even more is that you only get one life,” she told the students. “And I want to remind you that God has created you for greatness.”
The event was held with increased security, and Vice President J.D. Vance also made an appearance, reportedly at Erika’s request. Vance, who had long supported the work of Turning Point USA, gave a brief statement thanking Erika for her strength and honoring Charlie’s legacy. He called the Kirks “true examples of American courage and conviction.”
Since Charlie’s death, Erika has stepped into a more public leadership role at TPUSA. Though her background has mostly been behind the scenes, those in the audience said her speech struck a chord — particularly with students looking for direction in a turbulent time.
“Charlie was trying to raise up courageous young people,” she said. “That work doesn’t stop. It’s just beginning.”
The investigation into Charlie Kirk’s assassination continues, and authorities have released few details to the public. Officials have not yet confirmed a motive, but the case has sparked national attention, with lawmakers across the political spectrum calling for a thorough investigation.
Despite the tragedy, Erika Kirk’s message focused on hope and resilience. She challenged students not to live passively, but to be bold in their faith, intentional in their choices, and grounded in service to others.
For the students at Ole Miss, it was more than a rally — it was a moment of reflection on what it means to live with purpose.
