Breaking news! 20 Minutes ago in Washington, Erika Kirk was confirmed as...See more
Breaking news! 20 Minutes ago in Washington, Erika Kirk was confirmed as…See more👇
Students Push Back Against Erika Kirk’s Planned High School Visit
Erika Kirk is shifting her focus to high school audiences after drawing a limited crowd at a recent state university event.
At a high school in Phoenix, students are voicing strong opposition to her upcoming appearance, with many questioning whether her message is appropriate for a school setting.
Following a low turnout at a Turning Point USA campus event, Erika has scheduled a visit to Pinnacle High School in north Phoenix next week. However, the response from students and parents has been far from welcoming.
“I’m not really sure why she’s coming here,” said Francisco Sanchez, a senior at the school. “The topics she discusses feel too extreme for a school environment. I believe there are more suitable speakers who could represent us better.”
Erika pictured at Charlie's funeral, which was held in Arizona at the Arizona Cardinals stadium.Daniel Cole/REUTERS
“It’s a little crazy because I would never have expected someone like her to show up at a high school,” high school senior Kasandra Acosta told the outlet.
“I’m pretty shocked. Honestly, I’m surprised it’s even happening,” she added.
Parents of students enrolled at the school told they were concerned about security--especially after earlier this week, Erika, who became CEO of her late husband Charlie Kirk’s TPUSA organization after his September killing, skipped an event at the University of Georgia over safety concerns.
“It’s not just your average citizen coming over to speak to the club. She brings politics with her, she brings division with her, just because everybody in America is divided,” Bobbe Noland, a parent of a Pinnacle student, told the Republic.
Vance, the second in line to the presidency, still attended the event earlier this week, despite security concerns with Erika.Jonathan Ernst/REUTERS
School officials told parents this week that students would see an increased security presence on campus during the event, prompting some parents to also demand that the school move her visit to after-school hours.
Phoenix Police told 12 News that since Erika’s visit was a private event, the responsibility for securing it rests with the event organizers and must be coordinated with the school district.
“We regularly work with community partners to support public safety during gatherings. As with any event, our officers will continue to monitor activity, review available information, and adjust deployment strategies as needed to help ensure a safe environment for students, staff, and the surrounding community,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.
Her speaking appearance has been organized with the school’s Club America chapter, a TPUSA-affiliated organization. The right-wing nonprofit is headquartered in Phoenix, and she and Charlie lived in the nearby affluent suburb of Scottsdale for many years.
The Daily Beast reached out to TPUSA for comment on the controversy.
Students at Pinnacle High School are not too enthused by Erika's visit to campus next week.Daniel Cole/REUTERS
It’s not the first time she and her late husband stirred up controversy in Arizona’s public schools.
In 2021, Erika and Charlie raged against the Scottsdale Unified School District’s mask policy during the COVID-19 pandemic at a school board meeting. At the time, the couple did not have any children yet.
During the meeting, Charlie called the mask policy a “self-righteous measure” enacted to “abuse the children.”
“There is zero evidence to show that children are at a significant risk of catching or dying from the Chinese coronavirus,” he claimed, adding, “You have awoke a sleeping giant. I hope you enjoy your masked, short-term future here while it still lasts.”
The Kirks had welcomed their first child in August 2022, a year after they complained to a school board about its COVID policies.Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Erika, who grew up in Scottsdale but attended private Catholic school, went as far as to demand a moment of silence at the board meeting for “the kids who will end up committing suicide this upcoming school year in 2021 and 2022 because of your reckless and ego-centered leadership and lack thereof.”
“As Christians, we are told to pray for our leaders and that is what I will do every day,” she said. “May God have mercy on your souls for everything you guys are doing in this leadership position.”One Scottsdale parent called them out, pointing out that they didn’t even have children who were enrolled in the city’s public schools.
“While the agitators from outside our district would have you think that masks mandates are only in place at liberal public schools, the list of private and parochial schools also enacting mask mandates is far from short,” the parent said. “I applaud SUSD’s governing board.”
A MOTHER FOUND… A FAMILY SHATTERED: The Tragic Death of Nancy Guthrie and the Shocking Arrest That Revealed a Betrayal No One Saw Coming.my
A MOTHER FOUND… A FAMILY SHATTERED: The Tragic Death of Nancy Guthrie and the Shocking Arrest That Revealed a Betrayal No One Saw Coming
The story of Nancy Guthrie began as a mystery that captured attention and concern.
At 84 years old, she was known as a quiet, deeply loved figure whose disappearance sent shockwaves through both her community and those who followed the case closely.
In the early days, the narrative seemed tragically familiar—a possible kidnapping.
Authorities searched tirelessly, neighbors spoke in hushed tones, and hope remained fragile but alive.
For her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, the uncertainty was perhaps the hardest part.
Waiting without answers can be more painful than facing the truth itself.
But as the investigation unfolded, subtle shifts began to emerge.
What once appeared to be an external threat slowly revealed signs of something closer to home.
Investigators, working methodically, began to piece together details that did not align with the initial assumptions. Timelines were reexamined.
Statements were revisited. And slowly, a different picture began to form.
When authorities confirmed that Nancy Guthrie had been found deceased, the emotional weight of the case deepened instantly.
It was no longer a search—it was a loss.
Then came the revelation that stunned everyone.
Tommaso Cioni, her stepfather, was arrested in connection with her death.
The news transformed the case overnight.
What had been viewed as a possible crime by an unknown perpetrator was now understood as something far more personal—a betrayal rooted within the family itself.
According to early reports, investigators are exploring motives tied to financial disputes and issues surrounding inheritance.
While details remain under investigation, the idea that greed and conflict could lead to such a tragic outcome has left many struggling to process what happened.
Because beyond the legal implications lies something deeper.
This is not just a case about crime. It is a story about trust—broken in the most profound way.
Families are often seen as places of safety, of unconditional support, of shared history.
To imagine harm coming from within that circle challenges something fundamental in how people understand relationships.
For those close to Nancy Guthrie, the grief is layered.
There is the pain of losing someone they loved.
There is the shock of how it happened.
And there is the haunting question of whether anything could have been done differently.
For Savannah Guthrie, the tragedy is deeply personal.
Known for her composure and professionalism, she now faces a reality no public role can prepare someone for—the loss of a parent under circumstances that are both devastating and complex.
Public reaction has been immediate and emotional.
Messages of support have poured in, reflecting a shared sense of sorrow and disbelief.
Many have expressed sympathy not only for the loss itself, but for the painful way in which the truth emerged.
At the same time, the case has sparked broader conversations.
About the pressures that can exist within families.
About the role of financial conflict in shaping relationships.
And about the importance of addressing tensions before they escalate into something irreversible.
As the legal process begins, there will be many questions still to answer.
What exactly happened in the final moments?
What evidence led investigators to their conclusions?
And how will justice be pursued in a case that has already left such deep emotional scars?
