Erika Kirk withdraws from event with JD Vance over threats, U.S. VP says

Erika Kirk greets U.S. Vice-President JD Vance during Turning Point USA's AmericaFest 2025, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Phoenix.

Erika Kirk, widow of slain activist Charlie Kirk, ‌withdrew on Tuesday from a Turning ‌Point USA event featuring U.S. Vice-President JD Vance due to threats on her life, the vice-president said.

“I know that she did get some threats,” Vance told an audience of University ​of Georgia ​students in Athens, Georgia. “I ‌was a little worried that ⁠we were going to have to cancel the event because Erika was not going to come, and she was very worried about it."

Vance said he had ⁠talked to the Secret Service and was not concerned about his own safety. He gave no details about the threats ⁠to Erika Kirk, who is the CEO of Turning Point USA.

The Secret Service and Turning Point did not immediately respond to requests ​for comment.

A gunman killed Charlie Kirk in September ⁠during ⁠a campus speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Authorities describe the ⁠shooting as politically motivated. Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA to galvanize young voters for conservative causes.

The ‌killing intensified debate over political violence in the United ⁠States, prompting condemnation ‌from officials across the political spectrum and leading to increased security at subsequent campus events involving high-profile ‌political figures.

By Jarrett ⁠Renshaw and Trevor Hunnicutt

(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw ‌and Trevor Hunnicutt; ​Editing by Ross Colvin and Lisa Shumaker)