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Erika Kirk couldn’t stop singing the praises of JD Vance during the 2025 AmericaFest event in Phoenix. Just days after publicly endorsing him for president, an unexpected and awkward moment unfolded when Turning Point USA CEO sat down with surprise guest, Nicki Minaj. The rapper commended various Trump administration figures but stumbled when referring to the Vice President. “Role models like the assassin, JD Vance, our vice president,” Minaj stated, only to realize she had used the term “assassin” in front of Charlie Kirk’s widow, whose husband was tragically assassinated. Thankfully, Erika managed to laugh off the unfortunate slip-up.
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The discomfort continued to linger as Vance took the stage following Minaj’s appearance. He delivered an impassioned speech to the audience, asserting, “So if you love America, if you want all of us to be richer, stronger, safer, and prouder, you have a home on this team,” as reported by Fox News. Before his address, Vance seemed intent on avoiding a repeat of the intimate embrace he and Erika shared during a Turning Point USA event in October, which had sparked rumors of an affair.
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The awkwardness officially reached levels of cringe when Vance came onto the stage after Minaj. He delivered an impassioned speech to the crowd. “So if you love America, if you want all of us to be richer, stronger, safer, and prouder, you have a home on this team,” the vice president said, per Fox News. Prior to the speech, Vance seemed determined to not recreate the intimate hug he shared with Erika at a Turning Point USA in October that immediately sparked affair rumors.
Earlier at AmericaFest, Erika stirred controversy by alluding to the affair rumors linked to her and JD Vance, following their viral hug. She took a swipe at political commentator Joy Reid, who had insinuated an inappropriate relationship between herself and JD. “Joy Reid probably needs a really, really good hug,” Erika remarked on December 18. “I’ve got a good hug for you, good hug for you. … I’ll even touch the back of your head,” she added, referencing her affectionate gesture with JD. The former beauty queen seemed to relish discussing the moment she and JD shared.
In the prior month, Erika had tried to defend her hug with JD during an interview with Megyn Kelly, though her explanation seemed to backfire. She laughed off the affair rumors, saying, “Whoever is hating on hugging needs a hug themselves,” and adding, “My love language is touch, if you will.” Erika explained that the embrace was an emotional moment for the Turning Point USA audience.
Erika Kirk defended her intimate hug with JD Vance
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Clips from Erika’s interview with Kelly circulated on social media, where the response was less than favorable. One user commented, “Love language? Is that how she addresses the VP? With love language?” Others suggested that Erika had become overly focused on the viral hug and advised her to remain silent on the subject for a while.
The previous month, Erika offered a defense of her hug with JD, which hilariously backfired. During an interview with Megyn Kelly in November, Erika laughed off rumors about her and the vice president. “Whoever is hating on hugging needs a hug themselves,” she told Kelly. “My love language is touch, if you will,” Erika said, further explaining that it was an emotional moment when she hugged JD for the Turning Point USA crowd.
Clips of Erika’s exchange with Kelly were posted to X, where people were unimpressed with her explanation. “[L]ove language? Is that how she addresses the VP? With love language?” one user wrote. Others believed that Erika had become fixated on her viral embrace and needed to just be quiet on the subject for a while.
