Erika Kirk opens up about viral JD Vance hug after husband Charlie’s assasination

The 37-year-old was asked about the viral ‘intimate’ hug with Vance in late October, during a live, on-stage interview for The Megyn Kelly Show.

“Forgive me, did you see people didn’t understand the hug that you and JD had?” the host said.

Erika responded with a laugh and said, “Oh my gosh, please! Anyone who knows me knows—I hug,” she said. “And those hating on a hug probably need a hug themselves. I’ll give you a free hug anytime. My love language is touch.”

Erika Kirk addressed the viral photo of her hugging JD Vance, saying she’s just a deeply affectionate person, and intense hugs are part of her love language.

She even joked with Megyn Kelly that if she’d grabbed JD Vance’s a** instead, people wouldn’t be nearly as mad. pic.twitter.com/Mbchti3BGS

— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) November 24, 2025

She also explained what happened on the stage. “I’m walking over, he’s walking over, I’m starting to cry, he says, ‘He’s so proud of you,’ and I say, ‘God bless you,’ and I touch the back of his head – something I do with anyone I hug.”

“If you’ve ever hugged me, I’ve done that,” she added. “If people want to take that out of context, go ahead. To me, that just shows you need a hug more than anyone else.”

How the hug went viral

The viral moment, which followed Erika’s comment that she saw similarities between Charlie and Vance, had sparked speculations that they could be dating.

“No one will ever replace my husband. However, I do recognise some similarities between my husband and JD, in Vice President JD Vance. I truly do. That is why I feel so fortunate to introduce him this evening,” Erika had said while welcoming Vance to the stage.

Vance’s divorce speculations

Adding fuel to the fire was Vance’s comment about his wife’s faith just a few days before the event. Vance, a Catholic, had claimed that he hoped his wife, Usha Vance, who is a practising Hindu, would convert to Christianity one day.

41-year-old Vance is the odds-on favourite to succeed Donald Trump as the Republican presidential candidate in 2028. However, some have argued that his wife’s religion could be the biggest impediment to him getting the top job in the White House in 2028.

Some have also speculated that Vance would divorce Usha, whom she married in 2014, before the next presidential elections to marry Erika Kirk.

Following the controversy over his comments, Vance clarified that Usha “is not a Christian and has no plans to convert” but that he hopes she may one day “see things as I do.”