Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has strongly condemned the attack against Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose public assassination earlier this year shocked the nation.
Fetterman took to X to share a screenshot of a Fox News headline regarding a liberal podcaster who labeled Erika Kirk a "grifter" and said she should be "kicked to the curb."
In his post, the senator wrote, “It’s gross and dehumanizing to attack a widow with young children after just witnessing his public assassination.”
He argued that common decency should transcend politics, adding, “It shouldn’t be controversial to put our political views aside and extend the grace for a deeply traumatized family to grieve.”
The attack originated from Jennifer Welch, host of the "I've Had It" podcast, who launched a tirade against the widow. Welch called Erika Kirk an "absolute grifter, just like Donald Trump, and just like her unrepentant, racist, homophobic husband was."
Fetterman’s statement of grace was immediately praised by Republicans, including GOP Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who publicly thanked the Democratic senator for his stance. Fox News Channel political analyst Gianno Caldwell also expressed full agreement with the comments.
Charlie Kirk, the founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during a campus event in Utah in September. He and his wife Erika have two young children. Erika Kirk has since taken over as CEO of Turning Point USA.