Did Erika Kirk lose custody of her kids? Here's the truth behind Anna Paulina Luna's claims

Rumors claim Erika Kirk lost custody after a podcast slip, but it's false; she continues raising her two kids after husband Charlie Kirk’s death.

Published on: Jan 12, 2026, 07:40:15 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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Erika Kirk, the widow of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, was the subject of a fresh rumor, thanks to old comments U.S. House Representative Anna Paulina Luna.

Erika Kirk, the CEO of Turning Point USA. (Getty Images via AFP)

Luna misspoke at a podcast appearance, saying Erika Kirk "lost her kids." Though she corrected herself, noting that she meant to say that Erika Kirk's lids lost their father, the clip went viral. Claims started circulating, citing Luna, that Erika Kirk has lost custody of her kids.

However, that is not the case. Erika Kirk continued to parent their son and daughter as a single mother, after her husband, Charlie Kirk, was fatally shot in September 2025. Luna also clarified, admitting that she misspoke.

What Anna Paulina Luna Said

The source of the claim stems from Anna Paulina Luna's appearance on the PBD podcast with Patrick Bet-David back in October 2025. Luna was discussing the conspiracy theories that have linked Erika Kirk to Charlie Kirk's death, led by former Daily Wire staff, Candace Owens.

Discussing whether Erika Kirk could have any role in Charlie Kirk's death, Luna said: "When I see that, it's like, you're already victimizing the victim, if that makes sense. Because at the end of the day, she did lose her husband, she lost her kids.

"Like, I was just with her at the White House, and she's, you know -- that's anyone -- if that happened to your wife, my husband -- like, it's devastating," she added.

Also read: Did Renee Nicole Good mock Charlie Kirk's death? Here's the truth behind viral photo

Anna Paulina Luna's Comments Resurface

Made in October 2025, Anna Paulina Luna's comments resurfaced on social media in January. As it spread rapidly, Luna reacted to one post, shutting down the rumors that she meant to say that Erika Kirk lost custody of her child.

"To clarify: I meant to say the kids lost their dad* PBD podcast is not edited so it was not changed or taken out," she wrote, reacting to a post.

Charlie and Erika Kirk’s daughter is about 3 years old, and their son is about 1.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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