The internet has been swirling with a specific, somewhat haunting question lately: where were Charlie Kirks kids during that awful afternoon in Orem? It’s been months since the news broke on September 10, 2025, that the Turning Point USA founder was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University, but the focus has shifted from the politics of the event to the family left behind.
People want to know where they were. They want to know if they’re okay. Honestly, the answer is a mix of heartbreaking and remarkably protective.
The Day Everything Changed in Utah
When the shots rang out at the university campus, Charlie’s children—a three-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son—were not at the event. Thankfully.
Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow and the former Miss Arizona USA, has been incredibly vocal about the fact that she and the kids were not present when the 22-year-old suspect, Tyler Robinson, allegedly opened fire. While Charlie was in the middle of his "Prove Me Wrong" tour, his family was elsewhere, tucked away from the chaos that would eventually dominate every news cycle for weeks.
It’s a small mercy in a massive tragedy.
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Can you imagine the trauma if they had been in the front row? Instead, they were at home, likely going about a normal Tuesday, blissfully unaware that their lives had just been cleaved into a "before" and an "after." Erika later shared in a press conference that she had to find a way to explain a permanent absence to a toddler who still measures time in "naps" and "snacks."
Protecting the Privacy of the Kirk Children
If you're looking for names or faces, you aren't going to find them easily.
Charlie and Erika were famously strict about this. Even before the assassination, Charlie would post photos of himself holding his kids, but their faces were always obscured or turned away from the camera. He once mentioned in a 2025 video—just months before his death—that his kids' names and faces were "nobody's business."
Erika has doubled down on this since becoming a widow. She’s now the CEO of Turning Point USA, stepping into a massive leadership role while grieving, but she hasn’t relaxed the "no-fly zone" around her children’s identities.
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- The Daughter: Born in August 2022. She turned three just weeks before the shooting.
- The Son: Born in May 2024. He was barely over a year old when his father passed away.
Basically, they are growing up in the shadow of a public legacy without being "public" themselves. It’s a delicate balance Erika is trying to strike: keeping Charlie’s memory alive for them while keeping the prying eyes of the internet at bay.
Where Are They Now?
Since the funeral and the subsequent Rose Garden memorial held by President Trump on what would have been Charlie’s 32nd birthday, the kids have been living with Erika in Arizona.
There was a particularly moving interview on Fox News where Erika told Jesse Watters that her daughter still asks when "Daddy is coming back from his work trip." Erika’s response? She told the little girl that her dad is on a "work trip with Jesus" and that he’s making sure he can still afford her "blueberry budget."
It’s those tiny, domestic details—the blueberries, the sky-watching—that make the whole situation feel so much more real than the political talking points.
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The "Four Kids" Dream
One of the most bittersweet things to come out of the post-September fallout was Erika’s revelation on Megyn Kelly’s show. She admitted that she and Charlie had planned on having four children.
After the shooting, she was actually praying she was pregnant, hoping for one last piece of him to hold onto.
Moving Forward in 2026
Life has continued, as it always does. Erika has moved into the executive suite at TPUSA, and the organization is pushing harder than ever into K-12 schools, but the personal side remains quiet. The kids are being raised with the help of Charlie’s parents, Robert and Kathryn Kirk, and occasionally his sister Mary, despite the well-documented political differences between Charlie and his "Bernie bro" sister.
The reality of "where were Charlie Kirks kids" is that they were safe then, and they are being kept safe now. They are shielded from the trial of Tyler Robinson and the endless debates about security failures and political violence.
Actionable Insights for Following the Story:
- Respect the "No-Face" Boundary: If you see "leaked" photos of the children on social media, be aware that these are likely AI-generated or unauthorized; the family remains committed to their privacy.
- Follow Official TPUSA Updates: For news on how the family is being supported through the "Charlie Kirk Memorial Fund," stick to official Turning Point USA press releases rather than tabloid speculation.
- Monitor the Trial: The trial of Tyler Robinson is the next major milestone; while the children won't be involved, the legal outcome will likely bring more public statements from Erika regarding the family's path forward.
The focus remains on the "legacy" Charlie left behind, but for two small children in Arizona, that legacy is just a dad who hasn't come home from work yet.