What was meant to be an emotional tribute to her late husband Charlie Kirk’s legacy quickly turned into a viral moment after Erika Kirk made what many are calling the “greatest Freudian slip of all time.”
While speaking onstage at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest event in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, December 20, the 37-year-old appeared to accidentally use the word “grift” instead of “grit” while praising her husband’s work.
The slip of the tongue quickly ignited a wave of online reactions, with many claiming it may have been more intentional than accidental.
“She said what she said… and meant it!” one social media user reacted to the now-viral moment.
Erika Kirk stepped into her late husband Charlie Kirk’s shoes by becoming the new CEO and chair of Turning Point USA following his assassination
At the event, Erika Kirk was honoring a student named Caleb Chilcutt with the Charlie Kirk Courage Award.
Chilcutt, a student at Utah Valley University, received the award for his courage and for being by Charlie’s side when he was assassinated on campus earlier this year, on September 10.
The late founder of the conservative student organization Turning Point USA was fatally attacked during a debate event in broad daylight by an armed assailant, who authorities later identified as Tyler Robinson.
Chilcutt has also led efforts to establish a permanent memorial for Kirk on his college campus.
In videos from Saturday’s event, Erika is heard saying, “Despite the devastating loss of Charlie Kirk, my incredible husband… Caleb has persisted with the same grift,” before quickly adding, “Excuse me, gift,” and then correcting herself again to say, “grit.”
As the slip occurred, Erika placed a hand on her chest, let out a sigh, rested both hands on the podium, and leaned forward before addressing the audience directly, saying, “It has been a long day.”
The former Miss Arizona, who won the title in 2011, then turned and pointed to Caleb standing onstage and reassured him, saying, “Trust me, you’re not a grifter, honey. It’s all good.”
Erika accidentally used the word “grift,” meaning petty or swindle, instead of “grit,” which refers to courage or determination, during her speech
A grifter typically refers to someone who deceives or manipulates others for personal gain, while grit is commonly used to describe courage, perseverance, and determination.
Shortly afterward, the moment went viral online, sparking heated discussions among netizens over Erika’s word choice.
A grifter typically refers to someone who deceives or manipulates others for personal gain, while grit is commonly used to describe courage, perseverance, and determination.
Shortly afterward, the moment went viral online, sparking heated discussions among netizens over Erika’s word choice.
Erika Kirk: “Despite the devastating loss of Charlie Kirk, my incredible husband, at UVU, Caleb has persisted with the same grift, excuse me, grit…”
This is the greatest Freudian slip of all time. pic.twitter.com/WMLhCqhnrg
— Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) December 21, 2025
A viewer in agreement commented, “She’s auditioning for wurst lady,” while another added, “That wasn’t a slip… You can’t lie to your subconscious.”
A third remarked, “Yeah, that slip was brutal when ‘grit’ accidentally comes out as ‘grift,’ it instantly undercuts the whole speech and says the quiet part out loud.”