The photographs look almost ordinary at first glance—glossy stage lights, sequined sashes, and the familiar backdrop of a beauty pageant. But in the wake of tragedy, those resurfaced images have sparked a wave of surprise online. For many, they revealed a little-known history that connects Erika Kirk, widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, to former President Donald Trump in ways few had ever considered.
Their public embrace onstage at Charlie’s memorial, framed by grief and heavy symbolism, seemed at once new and deeply familiar. Yet behind that hug was a connection stretching back more than a decade—one tied not to politics, but to pageantry, ambition, and the complicated orbit of Trump’s influence.
A Shocking Loss That Put Erika in the Spotlight
The connection re-entered public conversation under the most painful circumstances imaginable. On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University.
The attack sent shockwaves through conservative circles, sparking an outpouring of grief from figures across politics, media, and business. Within days, a massive memorial was organized in Glendale, Arizona. More than 60,000 people filled State Farm Stadium, while thousands more stood outside, unable to get inside.
At the center of it all stood Erika Kirk. Just 36, suddenly a widow and a mother of two, she was thrust into a role she never sought: the face of resilience for her late husband’s movement. She spoke through tears about their marriage, her faith, and her decision to take the reins as Turning Point USA’s new CEO.
By the time Donald Trump took the stage—shielded by bulletproof glass, surrounded by the weight of his office—the moment had already carried the gravity of a state funeral. When he finished, Trump embraced Erika. Cameras captured the moment, and for many, it symbolized continuity: a grieving widow upheld by the very leader her husband had so closely supported.
But then came the resurfaced pictures.
Trump and Erika Kirk at her husband’s memorial (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Before Politics: Erika Frantzve and Miss USA
Long before she became Mrs. Charlie Kirk, Erika was Erika Lane Frantzve—an ambitious young woman with a sharp mind, a strong Christian faith, and an eye for public platforms. Born and raised in Arizona, she entered the world of pageantry in her early twenties, not as a vanity project but as a stepping stone for her broader aspirations.
In November 2011, on her 23rd birthday, Erika won the title of Miss Arizona USA. The victory gave her the opportunity to compete on the national stage at Miss USA 2012.
And this is where Trump comes in.
At the time, Miss USA was owned by the Miss Universe Organization—a company that Donald Trump had co-owned since the mid-1990s. He was deeply involved, often appearing at events, meeting contestants, and exerting influence over the competitions. Multiple reports over the years described Trump as not just a businessman but an active participant in how pageants were run.
Which means when Erika competed in 2012, she was stepping directly into Trump’s orbit.
The NSFW Photos That Resurfaced
As news of Charlie’s death and Erika’s emotional memorial remarks spread, social media users began digging into her past. Soon, images from her Miss USA days began circulating online: bikini shots, promotional modeling pictures, and press appearances at venues branded with “Trump International Hotel Las Vegas.”
To pageant insiders, these were standard fare—glamour shots that contestants used to promote themselves and their sponsors. But to the broader public, seeing Erika Kirk, now a widow and newly appointed CEO of a major conservative organization, in skimpy outfits on a Trump-branded stage was jarring.
One X (formerly Twitter) user summed up the sentiment:
“Oooooh. Erika Kirk competed in the 2012 Miss USA competition, which was owned by Trump. Her talent portion for the Miss Arizona contest was performing a dribbling exhibition with two balls. Her website still lists contact info to book her for modeling and acting.”
The resurfacing of these photos sparked a frenzy of commentary. Some treated them as harmless nostalgia. Others suggested they revealed just how long Trump and Erika’s lives had been intersecting, even if indirectly.
Trump’s Role in Miss USA
To understand the significance, one must recall Trump’s reputation in the pageant world. For 19 years, he owned Miss Universe, Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA. Contestants often spoke about the weight his opinions carried. Preliminary judges revealed that Trump could personally select finalists and frequently made comments on contestants’ appearances.
The competitions were more than pageantry—they were stepping stones for young women seeking careers in media, philanthropy, and public advocacy. Erika herself was no exception.
She once told AZ Foothills that her motivation wasn’t the crown itself:
“What really matters is making a difference, and I want to change the world. The bling is just a bonus.”
Her charitable work through her Christian-based organization, Everyday Heroes Like You, was part of that mission. Yet the Miss USA platform also tied her, however loosely, to Trump.
A Surprising “Double Whammy” Connection
The story doesn’t end with the pageant. Another online revelation claimed Erika’s father had ties to Trump Tower construction projects, creating yet another potential overlap between the two families years before Erika and Charlie ever met.
Though the details remain speculative, the suggestion of multiple points of intersection—her pageant days under Trump’s ownership and her family’s construction ties—only fueled the sense that the connection ran deeper than most realized.
Meeting Charlie and Building a Life
Of course, Erika’s true public identity was forged not on the pageant stage but alongside Charlie Kirk. The two met in 2018 during what was supposed to be a job interview. In a video Erika later posted, Charlie himself recounted the moment to their young daughter:
“We’re here at Bill’s Burgers in New York City. Right near this very table was the first time Dada met Mama. It started as a job interview, and I was asking all these questions… Then I realized Mama was beautiful and smart and elegant and Christlike, and so I said, ‘Forget this job interview. I want to date you.’”
They married in 2021, blending their shared Christian faith and conservative values into both family life and activism. Erika became a frequent presence on Turning Point platforms, hosting podcasts and appearing at events. Her background in public speaking and advocacy made her a natural partner in Charlie’s mission.
But her pageant past—and the Trump connection it implied—was largely forgotten. Until now.
The Hug That Rekindled Questions
When Erika and Trump embraced on stage at Charlie’s memorial, it was meant as a gesture of solidarity. Trump praised Charlie as a “giant of his generation” and called Erika “incredible and beautiful,” vowing that Turning Point USA would “become bigger and better and stronger than ever before under her leadership.”
But the image of the hug, paired with resurfaced photos, led many online to ask: was this really the first time their paths had crossed? Or had their connection begun years earlier under the lights of Miss USA?
The truth may be somewhere in between. While no evidence suggests they had a personal relationship during the pageant years, Erika was undeniably part of Trump’s orbit. Whether he remembered her or not, the fact that she once competed under his ownership added a strange layer of familiarity to their public interaction in 2025.
The pair shared an embrace at the memorial (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Erika’s New Role and Trump’s Praise
Today, Erika faces a daunting task: stepping into her husband’s shoes as CEO of Turning Point USA. Trump’s public endorsement at the memorial was not just personal but political. It signaled that the movement Charlie built would not fade—and that Erika would be central to its future.
By praising her so strongly, Trump effectively positioned Erika as both a guardian of her husband’s legacy and a figure in her own right. For conservatives mourning Charlie’s death, it was a reassurance. For skeptics, it raised questions about how closely Erika’s trajectory might now align with Trump’s.
Social Media Reactions
As with much of modern politics, the conversation played out online. Some mocked the resurfaced bikini photos as irrelevant, arguing that youthful pageant participation shouldn’t overshadow Erika’s present grief and responsibilities. Others saw irony in the fact that Trump, long criticized for his pageant involvement, was now publicly supporting a former contestant who had become a major conservative figure.
One user wrote:
“Imagine competing in a Trump pageant in 2012 and then standing on stage with him in 2025 as the widow of one of his closest allies. Life is wild.”
Another added:
“Say what you will about Trump, but the man’s orbit is endless. Erika Kirk has been in it for over a decade without people even realizing.”
A Legacy Still Unfolding
As Erika steps into leadership at Turning Point USA, her connection to Trump—past and present—will likely remain a topic of fascination. What began as an unexpected resurfacing of old photos has grown into a narrative about how personal histories, political movements, and public tragedies intertwine.
Charlie Kirk’s death ensured that Erika would become a central figure in conservative politics. Trump’s embrace symbolized his blessing of that transition. And the Miss USA photos, far from discrediting her, serve as a reminder of how long she has been navigating public platforms, criticism, and scrutiny.
Conclusion: A Strange Full Circle
From the glitz of Miss USA to the grief of a stadium packed with mourners, Erika Kirk’s journey has been anything but predictable. Her history with Trump—indirect though it may have been—illustrates just how tightly interwoven America’s cultural, political, and personal stories can be.
What began as a young woman’s bid to use a pageant platform for charity has now become part of a larger narrative about power, politics, and resilience. And as Erika Kirk carries forward her husband’s mission, her unexpected connection to Trump ensures she will remain a figure at the intersection of faith, conservatism, and America’s unending fascination with the lives behind the headlines.
Adrian Hawthorne is a celebrated author and dedicated archivist who finds inspiration in the hidden stories of the past. Educated at Oxford, he now works at the National Archives, where preserving history fuels his evocative writing. Balancing archival precision with creative storytelling, Adrian founded the Hawthorne Institute of Literary Arts to mentor emerging writers and honor the timeless art of narrative.