"Usha Vance has every right to be livid."
The US Vice President, JD Vance, recently met Erika Kirk, the wife of the late Charlie Kirk.
However, their meeting onstage has raised eyebrows and created controversy.
JD and Erika hugged, but the position and closeness of the action attracted attention and questions.
Many took to social media to accuse JD Vance of cheating on his wife, Usha Vance, with Erika.
In a seemingly intimate display, the Vice President had his hands around Erika’s waist.
Meanwhile, she placed her hand on the back of JD’s head.
This controversy was heightened when Erika said in her speech:
“No one will ever replace Charlie, but I do see similarities of my husband in JD…Vice President JD Vance.”
One user commented: “On the heels of this hair-stroking hug? Wildly inappropriate.
“No boundaries. No woman should be stroking a married man’s hair like that.
“The leather pants, no wedding ring, the gaudy gold rings?
“Usha Vance has every right to be livid.”
Another said: “This is disgusting. This isn’t how you hug a ‘friend’.
“This is intimate, and weird, and comes seconds after Vance says he wants his wife to become Christian.”
Continuing the accusations, a third person said: “Erika Kirk with an inappropriate greeting in Mississippi.
“A romantic-like bear hug and over-the-top hair grab on JD Vance.
“Too passionate. She has had virtually no grieving period either.
“Charlie’s parents will not talk to her. Something is up with her.”
However, despite the backlash, a body language expert, Judi James, explained that there was no intimacy between the pair.
She said: “There are two facets or layers to this onstage ‘greeting’ ritual.
“First, there is the usual congratulatory sign-off when one stage speaker hands over to another.
“But this also, understandably, shows signs of being a ‘grief hug’.
“These are traditionally more emotional and supportive or even mutually supportive than the normal perfunctory social greeting hug.
“Erika approaches Vance with her arms held out higher for her hug, creating a moment of emotional vulnerability, almost like a child seeking a comfort hug.
“Vance’s hands are placed on her back and hers on his shoulder blades.”
“He performs a patting gesture of what looks like consolation, and they break quite quickly as she walks off, and he turns his attention to the audience.”
Charlie Kirk was an activist and media personality who was assassinated at Utah Valley University.
The incident took place on September 10, 2025. He was 31 years old.
Charlie and Erika married in 2021 and share two children.
Watch JD Vance and Erika Kirk’s meeting:
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