“You have no idea what you just triggered, thundered Erika Kirk two days after the assassination of her husband Charlie. You have no idea of the fire you lit inside this woman. The tears of this widow will resonate worldwide as a war cry. »»
The 36-year-old woman met the pro-Trump activist in 2018, while she too was a conservative influencer. She became Thursday President of Turning Point USA, the organization founded by Charlie Kirk in 2012 to promote this ideology among young people.
The decision was “unanimous,” said Turning Point USA on X, and in accordance with a wish already expressed by Mr. Kirk. The 31 -year -old was killed on September 10, while he was hosting an event on the Utah Valley University campus. The young man accused of the murder would have committed his gesture because he disagreed With the ideas promoted by the activist – recognized for his positions against the rights of trans persons and his support for traditionalist values.
Type influencer
“I am a moderate compared to Erika,” said Charlie Kirk in April to a question posed by a couple auditor, as part of her program. “Erika is much more conservative than me,” he said.
“In many ways, she embodies the typical model of Christian influencers who have emerged for about 10 years,” says historian Kristin Kobes from Mez, who is interested in the crossings between gender, religion and politics and which is attached to Calvin University, Michigan.
Former Miss Arizona 2012, her long blond hair falling in cascades, Mme Kirk broadcast photos on its social networks glamorous From her, her family, her couple. With passages learned from Christian teachings.
“Beauty is really important in this environment (Christian curator), and several old Miss have migrated to the field of influencers,” she said.
Erika Kirk has more than 6 million subscribers on Instagram. Her family photos, bathed in gentle light, show her children on the back. The couple wanted to protect the identity of their 3 -year -old daughter and their 1 year old boy. Their first names have never been made public.
Preach traditional roles
His Christian faith is particularly put forward. The one who studied political science and international relations, and currently has a doctorate in biblical studies, participates in particular in conferences to promote the traditional role of wife and mother.
“When I met Charlie, having a career has become the youngest of my concerns,” she said New York Times A few months ago.
Christian nationalism highlights the idea of traditional marriage, in which authority is devoted to the husband, and Mme Kirk had herself talked about her submission to her husband, recalls Kyle Spencer, journalist and book author Raising them right – The Untold Story of America’s Ultraconervative Youth Movement and Its Plot for Power.
“But she had a professional life with him, and also without him,” she notes. It is very common within the movement of the Christian right to see leaders evoke the traditional roles of women, but that they do not really occupy these roles; They have more power. »»
As long as they continue to defend and endorse these ideas, specifies Mme Of mez.
Twice a week, Erika Kirk hosted a broadcast program to guide the listeners in a meditation and preach the Gospel. She also describes herself on her website as an entrepreneur at the head of a range of clothing and accessories with religious messages.
The photos of her late husband and her were still on the sales site this week. They pose, dressed in sweaters where the word “proclaim” (proclaim) is inscribed – the name of the company – and an invitation to promote its faith. Other articles are more humorous. “They said that Noah was a conspiratorialist,” we read on the front of a hooded sweater, with, on the back: “And then, he liked. Genesis 8: 1 ”.
Men-female cleavage
Can she have the same ancestry on young men as her husband?
“Generally, the spokespersons who have managed to attract young men on the right are other men, and I am not sure that a wife will be a good communicator for them,” says Mr.me Spencer, who however does not doubt the capacities of Mme Kirk to join more women.
The circles of Christian influencers are generally divided according to gender, notes Mme Of mez, even if the assassination of the husband of Mme Kirk – filmed live – and its popularity with its supporters will certainly be worth its widow a greater indulgence.
Mme Kirk must speak on Sunday during the commemorative service organized at the State Farm Stadium, in the suburbs of Phoenix, in Arizona. Several members of the US administration, including the president and the vice-president, are also expected. There could be up to 63,000 people inside the football stadium, and tens of thousands of others outside.
Shortly after the militant’s death, Erika Kirk posted photos and videos of her leaning on her husband’s body in her coffin.
“If you thought my husband’s mission was great now … You have no idea,” she wrote in particular under the images. YOU. All of you. Never. Never. You will not forget my husband. »»
