Erika Kirk, widow of the late activist Charlie Kirk and chief executive of Turning Point USA, pulled out on Tuesday from a campus event at which U.S. Vice President JD Vance was scheduled to appear because of threats to her life, Vance told an audience at the University of Georgia in Athens.
"I know that she did get some threats," Vance said to students in Athens. "I was a little worried that we were going to have to cancel the event because Erika was not going to come, and she was very worried about it."
Vance added that he had spoken with the Secret Service and did not have concerns about his own security. He offered no further information about the nature or source of the threats against Erika Kirk.
The Secret Service and Turning Point USA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The withdrawal comes in the shadow of a campus shooting last September in which a gunman, who now faces murder charges, killed Charlie Kirk during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Authorities have described that attack as politically motivated.
Charlie Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA to mobilize young conservatives, was killed while speaking on a college campus. That killing intensified debate over political violence in the United States and prompted officials across the political spectrum to condemn the act. It also led to increased security measures at subsequent campus events that feature prominent political figures.
Event organizers, campus administrators and political groups have grappled with how to balance open debate on campuses with the need to protect speakers and attendees. In this instance, the threats to Erika Kirk led her to decline attendance, while Vance proceeded with the scheduled appearance after consulting federal security personnel.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns about safety at public political events and the logistical and security decisions that follow high-profile acts of violence. Details about the threats to Erika Kirk remain undisclosed, and official statements from the agencies and organizations involved were not immediately available.
Summary
Erika Kirk withdrew from a Turning Point USA event with Vice President JD Vance after receiving threats. Vance told University of Georgia students he had spoken with the Secret Service and was not personally concerned about safety. The decision echoes heightened security around campus events following the politically motivated killing of Charlie Kirk in September.