Duringthe State of the Union, the widow of Charlie Kirk, Erika, attended the address as a guest ofPresident Donald Trump, with chants of "Charlie" breaking out as the president honored her late husband.
"So last year, Charlie was violently murdered by an assassin and martyred for his beliefs. His wonderful wife Erika is with us tonight," Trump said. Kirk began to tear up and blot her face as Trump continued saying, "You've been through a lot."
More:Trump State of the Union live updates: Follow president's address in real time
Trump went on to describe late conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a martyr while talking about a rise in religious participation among young people. The crowd erupted into chants of "Charlie."
"In Charlie's memory, we must all come together to reaffirm that we are one nation under God," Trump said. "And we must totally reject political violence of any kind."
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Kirk, a conservative activist and the co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during an event atUtah Valley University in Orem, Utah,back in September 2025. Kirk's alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, is currently facing a death penalty case in connection with the death.
See the moment here.
President Donald Trump delivered the first State of the Union of his second term on Feb. 24, 2026, promoting the economy and calling the U.S. "the hottest country anywhere in the world." He highlighted growth in business and manufacturing and pushed his immigration agenda, citing mass deportations and a sharp drop in border crossings. The speech came as Trump faces pushback from the Supreme Court over tariffs, rising tensions with Iran and a 60% disapproval rating that threatens to hurt Republicans." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Trump boasts business at State of the Union, clashes with Dems
President Donald Trumpdelivered the first State of the Union of his second term on Feb. 24, 2026, promoting the economy and calling the U.S. "the hottest country anywhere in the world."He highlighted growth in business and manufacturing and pushed his immigration agenda, citing mass deportations and a sharp drop in border crossings. The speech came as Trump faces pushback from the Supreme Court over tariffs, rising tensions with Iran and a 60% disapproval rating that threatens to hurt Republicans.
See the video here
USA TODAY's Karissa Waddick contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Watch 'Charlie' Kirk chants erupt when widow Erika is honored at SOTU