Erika Kirk marked the first anniversary of her husband Charlie Kirk's death with a private tribute, sharing a black-and-white wedding photo of the couple holding hands captioned "…until Heaven." Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot in the neck during an event at Utah Valley University on 10 September 2025. The gesture came as Erika chose to spend the anniversary privately with the couple's two young children and close family rather than attend a public vigil, underscoring the personal toll of a killing that continues to draw strong political reactions a year on.

A family spokesperson said Erika was grateful for the continued support shown to her and her family, and confirmed she would not attend a planned vigil at Utah Valley University that evening, having already appeared alongside President Donald Trump at a Republican convention event in Dallas the previous day, where he praised Charlie's legacy. Separately, tensions flared in New York's Times Square when sculptor Sergio Furnari unveiled a 6ft 5in statue of Kirk, which reportedly cost more than $100,000 to produce; scuffles broke out between supporters and protesters, with shoving, shouting and objects thrown despite a police presence nearby.