JD Vance Rages Over Charlie Kirk Assassination Conspiracy Theories Targeting Late Activist’s Widow Erika: 'It Just Enrages Me'
JD Vance defended Erika Kirk.
Aug. 21 2026, Published 11:58 a.m. ET
Vice President JD Vance has defended his MAGA ally, Erika Kirk, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
Following her husband's death in September 2025, Erika was bombarded with questions about the circumstances leading up to Charlie Kirk's assassination. Vance chose to shut down the conspiracy theories.
JD Vance 'Frustrated' by Charlie Kirk Conspiracy Theories
Vance spoke with Buck Sexton and Clay Travis.
Vance told former CIA analyst Buck Sexton on The Clay & Buck Show: "I'm most frustrated at the attacks on Erika and some of the other staff. You know, Mikey (McCoy), who was Charlie’s chief of staff and a very good friend of both of ours. You know, Mikey was the person who called me and told me that he thought Charlie actually had a chance when he was in the hospital. You know, of course, that didn’t work out. But the idea that somehow these people were involved in Charlie’s death just enrages me."
Sexton pressed him about the ever-growing claims something more insidious than just a standard assassination went down on the college campus where Charlie was killed. He claimed himself and his co-host, Clay Travis, were being driven mad by the swirling theories.
He cited a few, saying: "We take calls here, and people call in and say, ‘Oh, he had an exploding microphone on his body, it wasn’t actually a gun. It wasn’t really him that was doing the shooting, it was Israel.'"
Vance Understands Raising Questions
He encouraged people to send their speculation elsewhere.
Vance explained he felt the worst theories were the ones pointing toward Erika. "The idea that Erika has suffered not just the loss of Charlie, but all this B.S. that's directed at her, that's very frustrating to me," Vance said.
The vice president showed some empathy for those who don't "buy the official narrative," but he encouraged those who are "going down a rabbit hole" to avoid putting the blame on Erika.
He added: "I know Erika. She’s a very, very good person, and she’s trying to raise two kids who just lost their father, and she just doesn’t deserve the attacks that have been leveled against her."
Suspected Killer Turns Himself In
Tyler Robinson did not enter a plea for allegedly killing Charlie Kirk yet.
While Vance admitted he didn't follow all the conspiracy theories, he highlighted one which questioned suspected killer Tyler Robinson.
Vance said, "You know, 'Who’s Tyler Robinson? Why did he do it? You know, were there other people that had foreknowledge of it.'"
Robinson, however, turned himself in to the police after Charlie was killed by a bullet wound to the neck after a shooting during a speaking engagement.
Once he reached the court process, though, he did not immediately enter a plea, choosing not to take full ownership of the crime yet. Instead, his defense attorneys focused their efforts on attempting to get the death penalty off the table.
Conspiracy Theorist Candace Owens Receives Request from Erika
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Candace Owens was immediately suspicious of Charlie's death.
Erika received immense criticism from many conspiracy theorists, and one of the purveyors is Charlie's close friend Candace Owens.
The podcaster claimed Charlie came to her in a dream and suggested there was a larger plot to take his life.
While she doesn't often specifically target Erika in her theories, she did suggest the widow should be taken in for questioning.
Owens often sheds skepticism on the official narrative of the story. Recently, she held up images released by authorities, claiming those of the alleged assailant don't match Robinson's description closely.
"Stop. That's it. That's all I have to say. Stop," Erika publicly responded at a CBS News town hall.
