Erika Kirk Accidentally Said This 1 Word On Stage At Turning Point USA's "Americafest" And People Think It's Very, Very Telling
A slip of the tongue by Erika Kirk at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest has sparked widespread attention. While presenting the Charlie Kirk Courage Award, she accidentally called the event a 'grift' instead of 'gift' or 'grit'. The moment, captured around the seven-minute mark in the event’s video, quickly became a talking point online.
Erika Kirk took over as CEO of the conservative organisation after her husband, Charlie Kirk, died on 10 September 2025. Since then, she has become its public face, promoting his views in media appearances.
The incident unfolded during AmericaFest, where Erika Kirk was honouring Caleb Chilcutt with the Charlie Kirk Courage Award. As she spoke, she referred to the event as a 'grift', a term often used to describe deceptive schemes for personal profit. The remark was immediately noticed by attendees and later shared widely on social media.
Critics have previously accused Kirk of capitalising on her husband’s death for personal gain. The slip reinforced those claims for some observers. Richard Hanania, a political commentator, called it 'the greatest Freudian slip of all time'. Attorney and documentarian Gary Douglas described it as 'one of the all-time worst Freudian slips'. Comedian Deven Green also weighed in, joking about the moment on BlueSky. The reaction online ranged from mockery to speculation about Kirk’s intentions. Turning Point USA, which opposes movements like Black Lives Matter and advocates for traditional values, has not publicly addressed the remark. Kirk was elected CEO of the organisation on 18 September 2025, just over a week after her husband’s death. Since then, she has frequently appeared in media, reinforcing his conservative messaging and expanding her role as the group’s spokesperson.
The slip has added to ongoing scrutiny of Erika Kirk’s leadership at Turning Point USA. Her position as CEO and public representative of the organisation remains central to its operations. The incident, now widely circulated, has become another point of discussion about the group’s direction and her role within it.
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