"My love language is touch" - Erika Kirk defends her viral hug with JD Vance that sparked romance rumors 

Erika Kirk has spoken out about her viral hug with Vice President JD Vance, which sparked controversial romance rumors. The public appearance came weeks after Erika's husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, was assassinated.

In an interview with Megyn Kelly during her tour in Arizona on November 24, Erika addressed the viral hug with JD Vance, which prompted romance rumors. Many observed her body language and her interaction with Vance. Kirk said:

"Please. So for those of you who know me, I never. Whoever is like hating on a hug who needs a hug themselves, I will give you a free hug anytime you want to hug. My love language is touch, if you will."

Further, Erika Kirk also described the entire situation "play by play."

"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. Anyone whom I have hugged that I have touched the back of your head when I hug you, I always say, God bless you. That's just me. If you want to take that out of context, go right ahead again. That, to me, shows that you need a hug more than anyone else."

Erika Kirk's husband, Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed with a single bullet in September this year while giving a talk at Utah Valley University. The hug in question occurred at a Turning Point USA event on October 29 at the University of Mississippi, where Erika and Vance shared an emotional moment.

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Erika Kirk reveals she prayed she was pregnant when Charlie Kirk was killed

Memorial Service Held For Slain Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk At State Farm Stadium (Image via Getty)

In her interview with Megyn Kelly, Erika Kirk revealed that she prayed she was pregnant when Charlie Kirk was murdered. The couple shares two children but wanted to have four.

"We wanted to have four. And I was praying to God that I was pregnant when he got murdered. I was like, ‘Oh, goodness, that was going to be the ultimate blessing out of this catastrophe," she said.

Erika Kirk also spoke about the message she wants to share with young couples, encouraging them to have children.

"So, now when I see young couples, I tell them, ‘Please, don’t put it off.’ Especially if you’re a young woman. Don’t put it off, you can always have a career, you can always, you know, go back to work. You can never just go back to having children. And they grow so fast and so quickly. I just, I was praying. Both of us were."

Since Charlie Kirk's death, many have speculated about Erika's relationship with JD Vance, especially after they shared the viral hug at a TPUSA event. In her first interview since Kirk's death, Erika addressed the discomfort of having cameras tracking her every move, claiming that all her actions were scrutinized.

During the aforementioned TPUSA event, Erika Kirk mentioned that she sees some of Charlie Kirk's qualities in Vance. While introducing the Vice President, she said:

"When our team asked my dear friend, Vice President JD Vance, to speak today, I really prayed on it, because obviously it's a very emotional, emotional day. But I could just hear Charlie in my heart. I could just hear him say, 'Go reclaim that territory, babe. Go. The battle's already won. God's love conquers.'

"No one will ever replace my husband. 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."

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Following Kirk's death, Erika Kirk took over as the CEO of Turning Point USA, a youth-led organization founded by her husband. Charlie Kirk was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor posthumously by President Trump.