Erika Kirk speaks out for first time after JD Vance hug blasted 'inappropriate' following Charlie Kirk’s death

Erika Kirk seemed to take a dig at her critics who have been ‘analyzing her every move’ following the death of her husband, Charlie Kirk.

Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in September while speaking at a debate at Utah Valley University, shocking much of America and the world.

The controversial right-wing commentator is survived by his wife Erika and their two children.

Following Charlie’s death, Erika has been thrust into the limelight and was a focal point during the commentators' extravagant memorial service at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, which was attended by big names, including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Erika has pledged to carry on her husband’s work, becoming the CEO of the non-profit organization he co-founded, Turning Point USA.

Her multiple public interactions with Trump and Vance since her husband's death have been criticized by some on social media, however, with some going as far as to say a particular moment between Erica and Vance was ‘inappropriate’.

This moment with Vice President JD Vance was called controversial by Erika Kirk's critics (Brad Vest/Getty Images)

Erika hosted an event on October 29 at the University of Mississippi for Turning Point USA, and introduced Vance to the stage before sharing a hug.

As they hugged one another, Erika put her hand on the back of the vice president's head in a rather intimate moment, which raised some eyebrows.

She went on to say during her speech that Vance was a ‘very, very dear friend’, adding that while 'no one will ever replace my husband, but I do see some similarities in JD'.

UNILAD has previously approached Vance and Turning Point USA for comment.

Now, Erika has spoken out in her first sit-down interview since her husband's passing, also marking the first time she's spoken out since the now-viral hug with the vice president.

Erika Kirk made it clear she is aware of the intense scrutiny she has been under (Fox News)

A snippet of a soon-to-be aired interview with Fox News' Jesse Watters sees Erika address the scrutiny she has been under since the passing of her husband, as well as acknowledge the upcoming trial of Charlie's suspected killer, Tyler Robinson.

Watters asks how Erika felt about the defence requesting that cameras not be permitted in the courtroom for the trial of Robinson.

She said: “There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered. There have been cameras all over my friends and family mourning. There have been cameras all over me, analyzing my every move, analyzing every smile, my every tear, we deserve to have cameras in there.

“Why not be transparent? There is nothing to hide, I know there is not because I have seen what the case is built on.”