Erika Kirk endorsed Vice President JD Vance for president throughout a Turning Level USA convention in Arizona, vowing to throw one of many most influential conservative organizations within the nation behind Vance in 2028.
“We’re going to get my husband’s buddy JD Vance elected for 48 in essentially the most resounding manner attainable,” she mentioned throughout her speech on Thursday evening at AmericaFest, the primary main Turning Level occasion since her husband’s assassination.
CEO of Turning Level USA Erika Kirk speaks throughout AmericaFest, the primary Turning Level USA summit because the demise of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, Dec. 18, 2025
Cheney Orr/Reuters
Whereas the endorsement just isn’t a significant shock given Vance’s shut relationship with Charlie Kirk, Erika Kirk and Turning Level, it’s important given the group’s prominence on the fitting.
Turning Level, based by Charlie Kirk in 2012, played a key role in serving to elect President Donald Trump and shaping the trendy conservative motion, significantly amongst youthful voters.
Vance has not but formally mentioned whether or not he’ll run in 2028. In an interview final month with Fox Information, Vance mentioned he was targeted on the vice presidency and the 2026 midterms however would have a dialog with President Trump after subsequent 12 months’s elections about 2028 .
“We will win the midterms, we will do every part that we are able to to win the midterms, after which after that, I’ll sit down with the president of the USA and discuss to him about it,” Vance mentioned. “However let’s give attention to the now.”
Within the wake of Charlie Kirk’s demise, Vance credited the Turning Level founder for his personal political rise and for constructing out President Trump’s second administration.
“A lot of the success we have had on this administration traces on to Charlie’s means to arrange and convene. He did not simply assist us win in 2024, he helped us workers all the authorities,” Vance mentioned within the days after Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10 throughout a campus occasion at Utah Valley College.
On this Oct. 29, 2025, file picture, Erika Kirk, widow of Turning Level USA founder Charlie Kirk, and Vice President JD Vance embrace on stage throughout a Turning Level USA occasion on the Pavilion at Ole Miss on the College of Mississippi, in Oxford, Mississippi.
Jonathan Ernst, Pool through Getty Pictures, FILE
Erika Kirk’s endorsement follows Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying in an interview with Self-importance Honest revealed this week that if the vp had been to run for president in 2028, he would help him.
“If JD Vance runs for president, he’s going to be our nominee, and I’ll be one of many first folks to help him,” Rubio advised Self-importance Honest’s Chris Whipple.
Trump himself has mentioned Vance and Rubio could be “nice” choices for presidential candidates.
“I’m undecided if anyone would run in opposition to these two,” Trump mentioned in late October. “I believe in the event that they ever fashioned a gaggle, it will be unstoppable.”
