What to Know
During a kickoff event for her “Make Heaven Crowded Tour,” Erika Kirk addressed the ongoing protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Trump administration. The 37-year-old widow and current CEO of Turning Point USA said she personally feels like the protests are “demonic.”
While speaking to the crowd at the event, she referred to a conversation between MS NOW host Rachel Maddow and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, and said, “I can’t even believe I’m saying their names in a church.”
She explained that she could relate to what Rachel said on some level.
If you’re wondering where she was going with this or why this conversation even came up during her “Make Heaven Crowded Tour,” it’s because she said she understood some of what Rachel said — but related it back to her late husband while also criticizing the people protesting against ICE. Erika’s event took place on January 21, so it was before an ICE agent shot and killed Alex Pretti, but after an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good.
Referring to the conversation between Rachel and Jimmy, Erika said, “It was interesting because he asked her the question, ‘Do you think these protests are helping?'” In a much quieter voice, she said she personally does not think so, and actually believes the current anti-ICE demonstrations are “demonic.”
In spite of this, though, Erika said she “understood the sentiment of what [Rachel] said.” Rachel had spoken to Jimmy about the “3.5 Percent Rule.” When Rachel brought up this rule, she was talking about authoritarianism and the power of protest. She said, “In political science terms, there’s what’s called the ‘3.5 Percent Rule,’ which is that if you look at the authoritarian regimes of various kinds all over the world over the last century, once you have 3.5 percent of a population protesting nonviolently against a dictator or an authoritarian, that is essentially an unstoppable force that they can’t oppose, and that precludes them from consolidating dictatorial power.”
Erika took it differently and related it back to her late husband, Charlie Kirk.
The Turning Point USA CEO took this idea of a relatively small group of people sparking change and made it about Turning Point’s agenda. Reflecting on what Rachel said, Erika explained, “She was basically saying that when you have 3.5 percent of the population protesting peacefully, and you’re in nonviolent protest mode, it is very hard for that to go unnoticed. And it’s very hard for that to be tucked back in. It just kind of sparks something.” She used air quotes when she said the words “peacefully” and “nonviolent.”
Erika Kirk called the protests against ICE and Trump “demonic” pic.twitter.com/ccCds3eWp8
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 22, 2026
She used this concept to try to explain why she’s going on tour. “And I thought to myself — Charlie, in a way, in a healthy way… he believed deeply in the power of a faithful few that would rise up and stand for Christ, stand for the church, stand for what’s good and what’s beautiful in this world, and fight against evil. And it only just takes a small percentage, 3.5 percent,” she continued.
Then, she added, “This is why this tour exists. It’s unifying. It’s trying to pull together that collective of 3.5 percent.”
People have also protested against Erika’s tour.
The same night she gave this speech, people were protesting outside her event as well, according to the New York Post and CBS News Los Angeles. Protesters holding various anti-ICE and anti-Trump administration signs accused Erika of acting like she believes in Christian love while promoting hate instead.
And on social media, Erika’s comment about “demonic” protesters was not very popular either. On X, one critic questioned, “So she regards the First Amendment demonic as well, or it’s okay if it agrees with her views?” Someone else said, “I think she’s mistaken about who the demons are.” A third critic wrote, “So MAGAs don’t care abt free speech anymore.”
And once again, people accused her of “grifting” and almost couldn’t believe that she’s actually on tour right now, with one person writing, “What is she on tour for? 😂”
