It’s only recently that people are starting to talk about the unexpected past connection between Donald Trump and Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow.
At the emotional memorial service for Charlie Kirk held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, thousands gathered to pay their respects. Erika, visibly heartbroken, stood alongside President Trump on stage, and the two shared a heartfelt hug as the crowd applauded loudly.
The service was packed, with the stadium filled to capacity as mourners came together to honor the conservative activist.
Erika delivered a moving speech, thanking Trump and his family for their support during this devastating time. Through tears, she spoke about how much Charlie admired the president and how their friendship meant the world to him. She’s since stepped up to lead Turning Point USA, the organization Charlie founded back in 2012.
But amid all the grief, something else caught people’s attention online—a surprising link between Trump and Erika that dates back over a decade.
It turns out Erika, whose maiden name was Frantzve, competed in beauty pageants years ago. She won the Miss Arizona USA title in late 2011 (on her birthday, no less) and went on to represent Arizona at the Miss USA pageant in 2012.
At that time, Donald Trump owned the Miss USA competition as part of the Miss Universe Organization. He was involved for years until 2015, and there were even reports back then about how he had a hands-on role in the events, sometimes influencing selections.
It’s unclear if they ever met personally during the pageant, but given Trump’s involvement, it’s hard to imagine their paths didn’t cross at some point. One social media user dug up old photos and pointed it out, sparking a lot of conversation.
Back in 2012, Erika talked about how the title was a platform for her to make a real difference in the world, saying the “bling” was nice but secondary to impacting lives positively.
There were also old rumors from judges about Trump picking favorites in those contests, though nothing specific tied to Erika.
Their recent closeness stems from the shared tragedy and Charlie’s strong support for Trump over the years. Still, this old pageant tie-in has people looking back and wondering about the coincidences.
What do you make of it all? It’s a small world sometimes, especially in those circles