Erika Kirk’s hand signal with Donald Trump explained as people question meaning behind it
Erika Kirk's hand signal during her husband Charlie Kirk's memorial service has left people seriously confused - but there's actually a clear reasoning behind it.
Yesterday (21 September), tens of thousands of Americans gathered inside State Farm Stadium, west of Phoenix, where Kirk’s Turning Point USA organisation is based.
The 63,400-seat stadium quickly filled with people dressed in red, white and blue, as organisers suggested, and a number of notable figures were also in attendance.
Among those delivering speeches were US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and of course, Kirk's widow Erika, whom he tied the knot with in May 2021.
Advert
The mother-of-two heartbreakingly told the crowd she was finding comfort that her husband left this world without regrets, and also said she forgives the man who is charged with killing him at the Utah campus on 10 September - 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
Erika told the crowd: "That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and it is what Charlie would do.
"My husband, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life."
Meanwhile, Trump said in his speech that his political ally is now a 'martyr for America's freedom'.
He added: “I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie. And neither now will history.”
At the end of the speeches, Trump called Erika back onto the stage and gave her a hug, which was when she lifted her hand up to the sky and made a gesture.
The hand signal in question saw her put down her middle two fingers, while pointing up her index, pinky, and thumb.
Social media users were left confused by the signal, with one taking to Twitter to write: "Sorry, I love Trump and Charlie Kirk, and I don't want to spoil the party, but why did Erika wait until she was standing with the most famous man alive, in front of the whole world, at the most significant moment of her life, to throw up the devil-horned gesture?"
A second questioned: "I caught this hand sign from Erika Kirk which is a Devil/Owl sign people use in dark meetings and rock-on concerts. Why would she make this hand signal as a professing Christian and being knowledgeable of these things?"
While a third and fourth added: "Right, it doesn't make any sense!! There's a coded message being sent here" and "Yeah what the hell. No Christian would ever use that hand gesture."
However, others quickly pointed out that the gesture is in-fact how you say 'I love you' in American sign language - not devil horns or a rocker sign.
Someone explained: "That’s an 'I love you' gesture. The devil horns has the thumb closed over the two middle fingers."
While a second agreed: "That is sign language for love. Look it up."
The symbol is formed by extending the thumb, index finger, and pinky finger while tucking the middle and ring fingers into the palm.
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump, US News, Twitter, Social Media
Madison Burgess