Erika Kirk Accidentally Says ‘Grift’ Instead of ‘Grit’ About Her Late Husband Charlie: ‘Long Day’
- - Erika Kirk Accidentally Says ‘Grift’ Instead of ‘Grit’ About Her Late Husband Charlie: ‘Long Day’
Toria SheffieldDecember 22, 2025 at 3:59 AM
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Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
Erika Kirk in December 2025. -
Erika Kirk accidentally used the word "grift" instead of "grit" while describing the work of her late husband, Charlie Kirk
The flub took place while the widow — who has stepped into Charlie's place as Turning Point CEO — was speaking at the organization's AmericaFest in Phoenix on Dec. 20.
Charlie was shot and killed during his American Comeback Tour at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10
Erika Kirk accidentally used the word “grift” instead of “grit” while describing the work of her late husband, Charlie Kirk.
Erika, 37, made the flub while she was honoring a student named Caleb at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest in Phoenix on Saturday, Dec. 20, video of the moment shared online shows.
"Despite the devastating loss of Charlie Kirk, my incredible husband ... Caleb has persisted with the same grift,” Erika said, before stating "gift,” then finally, “grit.”
“It has been a long day,” she continued, then turning to the student and adding, "Trust me, you're not a grifter, honey. It's all good."
A grifter is someone who obtains something through dishonest means, while grit is used to describe passion and perseverance in relation to a goal.
Olivier Touron / AFP via Getty
Erika Kirk at the Turning Point AmericaFest conference on Dec. 18.
Turning Point USA's AmericaFest is a multi-day conference and festival. The 2025 event began on Thursday, Dec. 18, and it is set to conclude on Sunday, Dec. 21.
Erika — who stepped into her late husband's place as Turning Point CEO in September — made headlines during her opening remarks at the festival when she officially threw her support behind Vice President JD Vance for the 2028 presidential election.
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"We are going to get my husband’s friend JD Vance elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible," she told thousands of attendees, as seen in video of her speech shared online.
Vance, 41, has not announced any official plans to run for president after Donald Trump's current term.
Erika has said that Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, have been a source of support since Charlie's death.
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"He's been a blessing," she told Fox News host Jesse Watters in October. "Him and Usha, they are the most incredible people. Incredible. With such genuine love. I mean, just everything they did for us was so humanized. They just, they were there for us. They've been there for us."
Charlie was manning his signature "Prove Me Wrong" table as part of his American Comeback Tour at Utah Valley University when he was shot and killed on Sept. 10. He was 31.
Following a manhunt for the suspect, Tyler Robinson was later taken into custody. Robinson, 22, is facing multiple charges, including aggravated murder, in connection with Charlie's death.
At the Turning Point event, one of the main attractions is a photo op inside a recreation of the booth where Charlie was murdered.
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