It has been almost two months since Charlie Kirk was killed at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. Since his passing, Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has taken over the reins of the organization he co-founded and has become the CEO of Turning Point USA, as well as the host of their events.
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While Erika Kirk has continued to mention her late husband’s name during her speeches, the internet is convinced a budding romance is growing between Kirk and Vice President JD Vance after they shared an intimate-looking hug at a TPUSA event on Wednesday (Oct. 29). At the same event, Kirk noted that she saw similarities in her husband and Vance, which heightened theories overdrive. Don’t just take our word for it; look through this slideshow and listen to the memes and theories that are floating around on TikTok.
Microexpressions and Body Language Expert:
After receiving multiple requests to analyze the hug between Kirk and Vance, microexpressions expert Annie Sarnblad noted that the hug could signal romantic interest because Kirk cradled the back of Vance’s head, a move that women tend to do during intimate moments.
Jealous Husband:
One user noted that they wouldn’t feel comfortable with their husband hugging anyone like that, and wondered how the hug made Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, feel. The comments underneath the video shared similar sentiments as users voiced their opinions.
“Hands in the air isn’t ok if you aren’t together,” wrote one user.
“I loved Shonda Rhimes’ show Scandal. I’m not a fan of the live version,” added another.
Behavioral Analyst Speaks:
Another body language and behavioural analyst, Traci Brown, had this to say about Kirk and Vance’s hug: “They’re almost as close as they can get without touching, if they were touching, I’d be like for sure there’s a little secret lover going on, but they’re a little bit apart, but not very much so this has my eyebrows raised in suspicion.”
Romantic Conspiracy:
Like dozens of others, TikTok user @pottymouthpollyanna thinks that MAGA is attempting to replace Usha Vance’s place as Second Lady with Erika Kirk and will not be convinced otherwise.
Usha’s Exit Plan:
While users have already expressed that they think Kirk will replace Usha Vance, others believe that the Second Lady might be working on her exit plan. Especially considering that at the event, JD Vance said he would hope his wife one day converts to Christianity, and users are failing to see how the wife’s and husband’s views or cultures align.
A ‘Cringy’ and ‘Disrespectful’ Hug:
“That is not the way you hug a married man,” says @michellemonique2.0. “…the only thing that was missing was the kiss to seal the deal.”
User in the comments added that they thought the same thing and saw the hug as disrespectful towards Usha Vance.
“I would never hug a married man like that,” wrote one user.
“He (JD Vance) doesn’t respect Usha, why would she?” asked another.
‘We All Saw It Coming’:
But while users have expressed that they feel upset for Usha Vance, one user, @listentoyourbigsis2.0, said that she doesn’t feel bad for Usha because she shouldn’t have given up a “promising career” in law to devote herself to Vance.
More Than A Friendly Hug:
“If you have a significant other or a spouse that embraces another the way that JD did Erika, you need to leave that person,” said @rodriquezsmith4thepeople.
Standing up for Usha, Smith added that the reason Usha first aligned with her husband is because she wanted to make their relationship work through compromise, not because she knew the man he would be in the future.
A Different Take:
One user had a very different take on the idea that a romance is blossoming between Vance and Kirk. Instead, @fittedprof thinks that an affair between the two hasn’t happened… yet, but could in the future.
Speechless:
One user noted that the hug left her speechless and that the whole situation is bizarre, adding that they are using Kirk’s death to continue pushing MAGA narratives, rather than addressing how his assassination could have been prevented.
More Than Romance:
The hug doesn’t have to be romantic, though. User @yaptrapped thinks that it could potentially be that Erika Kirk is working on becoming JD Vance’s Vice Presidential Candidate if he decides to run for the presidency in 2028.
‘Just Listen To How Erika Kirk Talks About JD Vance”:
Hug aside, one TikToker added that you only have to listen to the way that Kirk talks about Vance to see that there is a level of affection between the two: “Look how she’s glowing… She embraced this man like they’ve been intimate.”
Working Theory:
@askraphaela has a working theory that Erika Kirk and JD Vance are planning to get married and feels that Vance is starting to lay “the foundation for an annulment” from Usha Vance.
‘Usha, Look Out For Yourself’:
As the theories online are growing, more folks are sending a message to Usha to think of an exit plan: “I’ve been with my wife 15 years and I’ve never even thought about putting my hands on another woman the way he (JD Vance) has for Ms. Erika Kirk,” said @caseforcongress in his TikTok video.
It Has To Be Romantic:
“Don’t you dare to try gaslight me, because I have never run my hands through the hair of any of my guy friends,” said user @ebvvt6, expressing that there must be something romantic between Vance and Kirk.
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