- - Erika Kirk, Candace Owens give update after private meeting

Melina Khan, USA TODAY December 16, 2025 at 6:39 AM

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Erika Kirk and Candace Owens said they had a "productive" private conversation on Dec. 15 after months of tension among some conservatives over Owens' conspiratorial beliefs about Charlie Kirk's death.

In social media statements, both Erika Kirk, the wife of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and Owens, a right-wing influencer, suggested they would each have more to say about the meeting in the future.

Charlie Kirk, 31, an ally of President Donald Trump, was shot and killed on Sept. 10 while speaking to students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, has been charged with aggravated murder and other felonies in Kirk's death.

Both Kirk and Owens took to social media to share messages after their meeting.

Erika Kirk, Candace Owens give insight into meeting

Kirk said she "had a very productive conversation" with Owens, adding that there is "more to come from both of us."

Owens said "absolutely nothing was held back" during their "extremely productive" meeting, which lasted more than four hours.

"We agreed much more than I had anticipated. Of course, we also disagreed on various points and people as well. Most importantly, we were able to share intel and clarify intent," she wrote, adding that "tensions were thawed."

"I think we both feel (the meeting) should have taken place a lot earlier than it did," Owens added.

More: Erika Kirk said she prayed she was pregnant when Charlie Kirk was killed

He was married to Erika Kirk, a former pageant contestant, who won Miss Arizona 2012. The two were married in 2021 and have two children together. While speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, he was shot and killed on Sept. 10, 2025. His widow, Erika Kirk (formerly Frantzve), has since taken the helm of leading and continuing TPUSA, while also raising their two children and pursuing her doctorate in biblical studies. Here's a look at her life from pageantry to marriage, motherhood and becoming a CEO.

" style=padding-bottom:56%>Conservative activist Charlie Kirk (R) founded and led the nonprofit, Turning Point USA. He was married to Erika Kirk, a former pageant contestant, who won Miss Arizona 2012. The two were married in 2021 and have two children together. While speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, he was shot and killed on Sept. 10, 2025. His widow, Erika Kirk (formerly Frantzve), has since taken the helm of leading and continuing TPUSA, while also raising their two children and pursuing her doctorate in biblical studies. Here's a look at her life from pageantry to marriage, motherhood and becoming a CEO.

" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/SufljncXvKdtibyTJS_eDA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e9d8ade9727e1d9aeae5972f800fff07 class=caas-img data-headline="See Erika Kirk's journey through marriage, motherhood and grief" data-caption="

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk (R) founded and led the nonprofit, Turning Point USA. He was married to Erika Kirk, a former pageant contestant, who won Miss Arizona 2012. The two were married in 2021 and have two children together. While speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, he was shot and killed on Sept. 10, 2025. His widow, Erika Kirk (formerly Frantzve), has since taken the helm of leading and continuing TPUSA, while also raising their two children and pursuing her doctorate in biblical studies. Here's a look at her life from pageantry to marriage, motherhood and becoming a CEO.

">Conservative activist Charlie Kirk (R) founded and led the nonprofit, Turning Point USA. He was married to Erika Kirk, a former pageant contestant, who won Miss Arizona 2012. The two were married in 2021 and have two children together. While speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, he was shot and killed on Sept. 10, 2025. His widow, Erika Kirk (formerly Frantzve), has since taken the helm of leading and continuing TPUSA, while also raising their two children and pursuing her doctorate in biblical studies. Here's a look at her life from pageantry to marriage, motherhood and becoming a CEO.

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1 / 26See Erika Kirk's journey through marriage, motherhood and grief

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk (R) founded and led the nonprofit, Turning Point USA. He was married to Erika Kirk, a former pageant contestant, who won Miss Arizona 2012. The two were married in 2021 and have two children together. While speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, he was shot and killed on Sept. 10, 2025. His widow, Erika Kirk (formerly Frantzve), has since taken the helm of leading and continuing TPUSA, while also raising their two children and pursuing her doctorate in biblical studies. Here's a look at her life from pageantry to marriage, motherhood and becoming a CEO.

Why did Erika Kirk, Candace Owens meet privately?

Kirk and Owens announced on Dec. 14 that they would be meeting for a "private, in-person discussion" the following day.

"(Owens) and I have agreed that public discussions, livestreams, and tweets are on hold until after this meeting. I look forward to a productive conversation," Kirk wrote on X.

Owens wrote in response, "I am very much looking forward to this discussion."

Erika Kirk and Candace Owens met for a private conversation on Dec. 15, more than three months after Charlie Kirk's death.

After Charlie Kirk's death in September, Owens took to her podcast to peddle conspiracy theories about the circumstances around his killing.

"There are lies that are being told and they need to be slapped down right now," Owens said in a Sept. 15 episode. She went on to share unfounded theories that the government could be covering up information on Kirk's death.

Erika Kirk did not publicly speak about Owens' claims until last week. When asked by CBS News' Bari Weiss about her response to Owens' theories, Kirk said: "Stop. That's it. That's all I have to say. Stop."

Earlier, on Dec. 3, Blake Neff, a producer for "The Charlie Kirk Show," publicly rebuked Owens' claims about Charlie Kirk's death in a YouTube video.

Neff also later announced that a group of Charlie Kirk's friends would be livestreaming their response to Owens on Dec. 15. The livestream was postponed in lieu of Erika Kirk's meeting with Owens.

Were Candace Owens and Charlie Kirk friends?

Owens, a onetime employee of Charlie Kirk's organization Turning Point USA – which is now run by Erika Kirk – has described herself as a friend of the Kirk family.

In a YouTube video on Sept. 11, Owens said she first met Charlie Kirk in 2017 when "nobody knew who Charlie Kirk was."

She said Charlie Kirk hired her "on the spot" to work for Turning Point USA. Owens remained with the organization as communications director until 2019.

Owens said in the video that she saw Charlie Kirk as "my best friend and my brother."

"We were brother and sister," she said. "We were fortified. Our relationship was forged in fire — the fire of politics. I knew him. I knew Charlie. The real Charlie. And Charlie knew the real Candace."

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Erika Kirk, Candace Owens talked for hours in 'productive' meeting

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