Erika Kirk has responded to backlash over her hug with Vice President JD Vance that went viral. Last month, a hug between Erika Kirk and JD Vance went viral resulting in many users on X condemning Erika’s move. Take a look: There’s a lot of controversy over this hug between Erika Kirk and JD Vance. Imagine being outraged over a 2.5 second hug between friends? Help me understand. pic.twitter.com/FIuYGpqsh7 — brittany (@by__brittany) October 31, 2025 Here was some of the backlash: She said, “No one could ever replace my husband,” yet she sees JD Vance as having some similarities . Moments later, she hugs him like he is her husband right in front of JD Vance’s wife. Did Erika Kirk ever truly love her husband? pic.twitter.com/a6jMClcqx0 — KraatyNews (@KraatyN) November 1, 2025 J.D. Vance hugs Erika Kirk at a “Turning Point event “— fingers in hair, hands on hips — while also saying he hopes his wife sees Christianity his way. Grief, politics, faith: two worlds collide. Respect or optics gone off script? #Politics #Faith #Power What’s your take ? pic.twitter.com/UyoGpaKfd6 — TheRealestJaraya (@x_yxzs_z0) November 1, 2025 People reported on how Erika Kirk responded to the backlash: Erika Kirk said she doesn’t understand the fuss about her recent onstage hug with Vice President JD Vance. At an Oct. 29 Turning Point USA event seven weeks after the assassination of Erika’s husband, Charlie Kirk, the grieving widow took the stage as the new CEO of TPUSA. She paid tribute to her late husband before welcoming Vance to the stage to speak. “No one will ever replace my husband,” Erika, 37, told the crowd. “But I do see some similarities of my husband in JD— in Vice President JD Vance. I do. And that’s why I am so blessed to be able to introduce him tonight.” As the vice president, 41, walked out, he and Erika tightly embraced. Following the hug, Erika moved her hand to the back of JD’s head, and he rested his hands briefly on her waist. The greeting surprised many internet users, according to a flurry of viral posts on social media that analyzed their hand placements and debated whether the hug was appropriate for the situation, given Erika’s recent loss, as well as Vance’s marital status. “My love language is touch, if you will,” she told the crowd at the Desert Diamond Arena in Phoenix, where her husband’s sold-out memorial service was held two months earlier. “So I will give you a play-by-play: They just played the emotional video. I’m walking over, [JD] is walking over. I’m starting to cry,” Erika recounted. “He says, ‘I’m so proud of you.’ And I say, ‘God bless you,’ and I touch the back of his head,” she continued. “Anyone whom I have hugged, that I have touched the back of your head when I hug you, I always say, ‘God bless you.’ ” Megyn responded with a laugh, saying, “They were acting like you touched the back of his ass!” Erika agreed, adding, “I feel like I wouldn’t get as much hate if I did that!” Our new app is here! Free, fun and full of exclusives. Scan to download now! Notably, just over a week later, Erika attended the swearing-in ceremony of the new U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, where she embraced Gor in a similar manner. Watch Erika explain the moment here: .@MrsErikaKirk addresses the uproar over the JD Vance hug: “Whoever is hating on a hug needs a hug themselves… I’m walking over, he’s walking over, I’m starting to cry, he says, ‘he’s so proud of you,’ and I say, ‘God bless you,’ and I touch the back of his head… If you want… pic.twitter.com/0PwB1SwNNS — The Megyn Kelly Show (@MegynKellyShow) November 24, 2025 Watch Erika Kirk’s full interview with Megyn Kelly below: