Donald Trump has appointed Erika Kirk, the widow of murdered rightwing activist Charlie Kirk, to a key advisory board of the US Air Force Academy.
The 37-year-old joins a quantity of different loyalists to the president on the 16-member panel of the academy’s board of guests, which in accordance to its website “inquires into the morale, discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods and other matters” of the Colorado Springs military coaching facility.
Kirk’s husband, who was shot and killed in September throughout a talking engagement at Utah Valley University, was appointed by Trump to the board a 12 months earlier and served till his demise.
There was no official announcement by the academy of his widow’s elevation, which was reported on Tuesday by the Hill and different political information retailers. But her title has already been added to the list of members as one of Trump’s present 5 appointees, with one slot vacant.
Other folks appointed by the president in March 2025 embrace the Republican Alabama US senator Tommy Tuberville, and Dina Powell, who was deputy nationwide safety adviser for technique throughout the first Trump administration.
A quantity of Congress members from each events make up the majority of the remaining of the panel, which incorporates two different Republican US senators elevated by John Thune, the chamber’s majority chief; they’re Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, named lately as Trump’s decide to change the fired homeland safety secretary Kristi Noem.
In a press release, White House spokesperson Olivia Wales stated Erika Kirk was a “perfect choice” to succeed her husband.
“Charlie Kirk served proudly on the board, inspiring not only the next generation of service members, but millions around the world with his bold Christian faith, defense of the truth and deep love of country,” she stated.
“Erika Kirk will continue his legacy, and will be a fearless advocate for the most elite airpower force in the history of the world whose warriors keep our nation safe, strong and free.”
Since her husband’s homicide, Kirk has continued to take an energetic position in Turning Point USA, the conservative advocacy group he based and led, as its chair and chief government.
She is scheduled to seem on Wednesday with Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the Republican governor of Arkansas and Trump’s former press secretary, at an occasion in Little Rock to promote the group’s Club America program that seeks to set up a Turning Point chapter in each public highschool within the state.
Kirk, a former Miss Arizona magnificence pageant winner, was additionally acknowledged by Trump throughout the president’s State of the Union deal with to a joint session of Congress in February.
