Erika Kirk Endorses JD Vance for 2028 Presidency at AmericaFest

Erika Kirk, the chairwoman and chief executive of Turning Point USA and the widow of its founder Charlie Kirk, endorsed Vice President JD Vance for president on Thursday during the organization’s AmericaFest conference, the first such endorsement since her husband’s assassination in September. "We are going to get my husband’s friend, JD Vance, elected for 48 in the most resounding way possible," Kirk told the crowd as they erupted in cheers. Vance has not announced a 2028 bid and has said he intends to focus on next year’s midterm elections.

Kirk’s announcement at AmericaFest followed months of speculation about the possibility of a Vance candidacy. She had told right-wing commentator Megyn Kelly in a late-October interview that Turning Point USA’s support for a potential Vance campaign was "in the works." She also recalled one of the last conversations she had with her husband—about how intentional he wanted to be in backing Vance in the 2028 race. Vance, who is scheduled to speak at AmericaFest on Sunday, has not committed to a bid, reiterating that his focus remains on the midterms before any future presidential discussion.

The endorsement drew a mix of virtual eyebrows and renewed chatter about a possible collaboration between Kirk’s orbit and Vance within the Turning Point USA ecosystem. Social media users questioned the optics of an endorsement from the widow of Charlie Kirk, given the timing and a visible display of warmth at a Turning Point event honoring her husband in October. A tight hug between Kirk and Vance at that October gathering sparked rumor mill chatter about their relationship and, separately, about the Vances’ marriage to Usha Vance. Usha Vance has dismissed the gossip as a "family joke," while Erika Kirk has argued that the hug was taken out of context.

Despite the social-media buzz, Republicans and political observers note that endorsements from activist groups can help shape early alignment in a 2028 race, particularly among conservative youth and activist networks that Turning Point USA reaches. The Vance camp has not announced a formal bid, and his team has historically signaled a cautious approach to declaring a campaign while he weighs a run against other potential contenders. The AmericaFest platform provides a high-profile venue to test support and to articulate a path forward on an issue slate that resonates with Turning Point’s audience.

For Erika Kirk, the endorsement represents a significant public step in a period marked by bereavement and a desire to influence the direction of the movement she leads. The new alignment also raises questions about how Turning Point USA’s formal endorsements might shape candidate selection and fundraising trajectories as the 2028 cycle begins in earnest. While Vance has not committed to a campaign, the endorsement places him squarely in the orbit of a major conservative youth network at a moment of renewed urgency to consolidate support ahead of the next presidential ballot.

As the year unfolds, observers will be watching whether other figures tied to Turning Point USA or similar activist groups enter the 2028 field and how the organization’s endorsements may affect the broader conservative coalition’s readiness for the race.