Erika Kirk has faced significant criticism for her frequent appearances in the public eye following the murder of her husband, Charlie Kirk, in September 2025. However, Rachel Campos-Duffy, a prominent figure on Fox News, has expressed admiration for Erika’s resilience and efforts to move forward after the tragic event.
In a recent interview, Campos-Duffy praised Erika for her strength and dedication. She also highlighted Erika’s role in writing the foreword for her book, a task that was initially intended for the late right-wing political activist.
Rachel noted the immense difficulty Erika must face every day without Charlie by her side. She described the tragedy as especially heartbreaking, given that Charlie was killed during a peaceful debate at a college campus.
“It’s tragic enough if you have a spouse or the father of your children die in a car accident, but to have them executed on a college campus, doing peaceful, friendly debate with college students — really in the spirit of debate that our country has always encouraged and embraced — it’s just so shocking and violent,” she said.
Campos-Duffy expressed her admiration for how Erika has continued to move forward. The TV star, who is 54 years old, emphasized that Erika has been striving to carry forward the message of patriotism and love for America, along with her faith.
“She continues to try to carry that message of patriotism and love for America, and certainly her faith to it all. I mean, since the first day after this happened, I think it was difficult not to notice that [faith] was indeed what was carrying her,” she added.
Rachel shared her appreciation for Erika’s contribution to her book, describing it as a touching experience. She highlighted the emotional impact of Erika’s words, particularly the lines where she reflects on Charlie never getting to see America turn 250.
“What’s really touching is even just the first lines, she says, ‘Charlie never got to see America turn 250 and some days that thought still settles heavy to my heart,’” Campos-Duffy shared. “She just talks about how much he would have loved all the celebrations that are happening around this anniversary, and his love for the country. … Erika did an amazing job.”
Inside the Backlash Over Erika Kirk
Erika has taken on the role of CEO of her husband’s Turning Point USA organization and has been making appearances at their events in glamorous outfits. She has also been present at White House engagements, which has led to accusations that she is using the tragedy for personal gain rather than grieving privately.
Some critics believe she is spending too much time in the spotlight and not enough time with her and Charlie’s two children. There have been claims that she uses the kids as props in her public appearances.
The mom-of-two addressed the negative attention in an unusual video in April, stating, “Every morning I wake up to another headline lying about me.” She went on to criticize people for “dehumanizing” her during this difficult time.
