Democrat Slams ‘Dehumanizing’ Attack Against Charlie Kirk’s Widow Erika

In a rare show of bipartisan unity, Democratic Senator John Fetterman has come to the defense of Erika Kirk, widow of slain conservative leader Charlie Kirk, after a liberal podcaster viciously attacked her on air.

Fetterman, posting on X Monday night, called the verbal assault “gross and dehumanizing” and urged Americans to “put our political views aside and extend the grace for a deeply traumatized family to grieve.”

His comments came after Jennifer Welch, host of the podcast I’ve Had It, labeled Erika “an absolute grifter” and said she “should be kicked to the curb” — just months after Erika’s husband was publicly assassinated during a student event at Utah Valley University.

Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and one of the most influential conservative voices of his generation, was gunned down in September in what federal officials have called a politically motivated act of domestic terrorism. The shooter, whose manifesto reportedly referenced Antifa-aligned rhetoric, is currently facing federal charges.

Erika Kirk, left to raise the couple’s two children alone, has mostly stayed out of the spotlight — until now. Last week, she appeared on Fox News’s The Five, speaking for the first time about her “gut-wrenching grief” and the faith that’s helping her move forward. “I’m re-learning how to live,” she said. “Charlie’s final book feels like his last words to me — a reminder to hold on to God, even in the dark.”

Welch’s outburst ignited swift backlash across the political spectrum. Fox News political analyst Gianno Caldwell called the comments “cruel” and “soulless,” noting his own experience losing a loved one to violence.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, currently running for governor, thanked Fetterman for speaking out and praised Erika Kirk as “a woman of incredible strength.” Mace, who recently introduced a bill to rename Black Lives Matter Plaza in D.C. to “Charlie Kirk Freedom Square,” said Welch’s attack reflects the “vicious cruelty the left shows toward people of faith.”

The controversy has reignited tensions over political rhetoric in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Erika’s recent media appearances, including a sit-down on Hannity promoting her late husband’s final book, have focused on legacy, healing, and her family’s determination to carry on his mission. “He believed America was worth fighting for,” she said. “Now it’s up to us to make sure that fight continues — even without him.”

The podcast episode featuring Welch’s remarks has since been flagged by several conservative watchdogs, but Welch has not apologized.