If you missed the funeral of Charlie Kirk today, you missed something amazing. The closest analogy feels like it could be a Billy Graham crusade, as many speakers reiterated the Gospel message that Charlie Kirk lived by.

But no one more than Erika Kirk embodied the message of love and forgiveness that echoed throughout her husband’s life. Yes, Charlie Kirk was a political figure – but he was a self-taught Christian apologist whom everyone around him agreed lived his values, and made them speak up about theirs. If you watch Vice President JD Vance’s remarks, he notes how Charlie’s death has changed how he talks about his faith.

.@VP: "I always felt a little uncomfortable talking about talking about my faith in public… I have talked more about Jesus Christ in the past two weeks than I have my entire time in public life — and that is an undeniable legacy of the great Charlie Kirk." pic.twitter.com/hqLkt9w7M7

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 21, 2025

Secretary Marco Rubio also spoke movingly about the Gospel message. Remmember, this is during a funeral service that was being watched around the world by thousands of people, not to mention the some 200,000 who showed up in person (and could not all fit in the NFL stadium).
https://twitter.com/BreeSolstad/status/1969880561679216753
But the person everyone had come to hear from was Erika Kirk. The widow who had summoned her inner strength to speak to a camera right after her husband’s murder, now found the strength to eulogize him to thousands and provide even more of a glimpse of who Charlie Kirk was. Her entire message is worth watching, and I encourage all readers to do so, if you haven’t seen it already.

What everyone in the audience did not realize is that Erika Kirk would embody the most Christian of virtues during her speech – forgiveness.

Erika Kirk revealed that she forgives the man who killed her husband Charlie and preached unity and peace in a stunning, searing speech that left mourners speechless and crying on Sunday.

“He wanted to save young men. Just like the one who took his life,” Kirk’s widow said through tears, speaking behind the presidential seal on stage at State Farm Stadium.

She added: “I forgive him because it was what Christ did. And what Charlie would do.”

“The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us,” Erika continued.

In a stunning moment, Erika proclaimed that her activist husband “was ready to die” — and explained what she meant.

Continuing from the podium on stage, Erika said, “I want all of you to know, while Charlie died far too early, he was also ready to die. There was nothing he was putting off. There was nothing that was too hard, or too painful.”

She went on, speaking glowingly of his work and legacy.

“He named his organization well. He knew things were not right with America, especially with young people, and that they needed a new direction,” she said of the Turning Point USA founder.

“Charlie passionately wanted to reach and save the lost boys of the West. The young men who feel like they have no direction, no purpose, no faith and no reason to live. The men wasting their lives on distractions and the men consumed with anger and hate,” she said.

“When he went onto campus, he was looking to show them a better path and a better life that was right there for the taking … My husband Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life.”

Then she spoke directly of her husband’s accused murderer, Tyler Robinson.

“That young man. That young man. On the cross our savior said, ‘father forgive them for they know not what they do’ — that man, that young man, I forgive him,” she said as the audience rose in a standing ovation, many of them in tears.

Erika Kirk also spoke clearly and movingly about her marriage, emphasizing their different and complementary roles, and smashing narratives along the way.

That eulogy was a victory for Christ, a victory over stereotypes of Christian and conservative women, a word for anyone listening who wants to have a good marriage, a word for men seeking purpose, an example of forgiveness, and a victory for her kids to see their Mama soar.

— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) September 21, 2025

The hours-long service should have ended with Erika Kirk and her incredibly moving message, but that honor went to President Trump. While his message was fine – when he stayed on track – there is one thing that President Trump did during the funeral service that was a much better example of the Christian virtues that Charlie Kirk advocated for and lived out.

For Charlie pic.twitter.com/8092jIt319

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 21, 2025

Yes, that is President Trump and Elon Musk, sitting together for a short while at the funeral, hopefully burying the proverbial hatchet. The two of them were seen shaking hands, fulfilling yet another of Charlie Kirk’s hopes.

President Trump built this movement over 10 years. His supporters are NOT going anywhere. I hope Elon and Trump reconcile and do so privately. It would be good for the country and the world if they do.@IngrahamAngle pic.twitter.com/E3eNyF6n5o

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 6, 2025

If Erika Kirk can publicly forgive her husband’s killer, then Donald Trump and Elon Musk can set aside their differences and at least be cordial in person once more.

Charlie Kirk was mourned today as an irreplaceable father, husband, friend, and political figure. But in death, he accomplished what he had always desired in life: to be remembered for his faith. Through this funeral service, thousands of people heard the Gospel message. And because of Erika Kirk, they saw the ultimate example of forgiveness. If there is a revival of faith in this country, this is where it will begin.

Featured image: Erika Kirk, low-res screenshot, editorial use only