Lip reader reveals what Erika Kirk said to JD Vance during viral hug that fuelled major debate

A human behaviour expert has weighed in on the hotly-debated hug had between Erika Kirk and JD Vance last week.

The political pair came together at the University of Mississippi on Wednesday (29 Oct) to celebrate Erika taking over from her late husband, right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, as CEO of his conservative movement Turning Point USA.

Kirk, 31, had attained the position until his shock assassination on 10 September, which occurred in the midst of a Republican debate at Utah Valley University. Whilst chatting to attending debaters, 22-year-old suspect Tyler Robinson fired a single bullet from a nearby rooftop, fatally killing Kirk.

Discussing the decision to continue her husband's work in the wake of his death, Erika made a teary speech, during which she gave a special shout-out to the event's guest of honour, the US Vice President JD Vance.

Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

"When our team asked my dear friend, Vice President JD Vance, to speak today, I really prayed on it, because obviously it's a very emotional, emotional day," 36-year-old Erika gushed.

"But I could just hear Charlie in my heart. I could just hear him say, 'Go reclaim that territory, babe. Go. The battle's already won. God's love conquers.'"

She added of Vance: "No one will ever replace my husband, but I do see some similarities of my husband in JD— in Vice President JD Vance. I do - and that's why I am so blessed to be able to introduce him tonight."

Trump's right-hand man subsequently emerged onto the stage, immediately leaning in to hug the grieving widow. What struck a number of onlookers, however, was how long the embraced lasted, as well as its arguably intimate nature.

Some called in question Vance's decision to place his hands on Erika's hips, whilst others pointed out that she, in turn, appeared to run her fingers through the politician's hair.

Some onlookers slammed the hug as inappropriate (Brad Vest/Getty Images)

Despite being slammed for exhibiting 'inappropriate' behaviour after videos of the interaction went viral online, a lip reader has since defended Erika and Vance's special moment, arguing that the hug indicated emotional support and nothing more.

Reviewing footage from Erika's moments beforehand, during which she can be seen uttering some emotional admissions behind the scenes, Nicola Hickling told Mirror USA she tells her assistant: "I can’t do this, I don’t want to do it. Give me a second."

After taking a minute to regain her composure, Erika stepped out onto the platform to give her speech. When the time came to welcome 41-year-old Vance - who is married to and shares three children with lawyer Usha Chilukuri - onto the stage, Hickling says she embraced him tightly.

The VP is then said to have told the mother-of-two, who shared both a daughter and a son with Kirk: "I'm proud of you."

The lip reader believes Erika then sadly replied: "It’s not gonna bring him back."

Erika threaded her fingers through Vance's hair (Brad Vest/Getty Images)

Despite failing to address the social media traction that the hug has triggered, Erika has since broken her silence, choosing to address a legal motion to curtail news cameras from the courtroom in the proceedings against Robinson - her husband's suspected killer.

"There were cameras all over my husband when he was murdered," she told Fox News after the embrace went vital. "There have been cameras all over my friends and family mourning. There have been cameras all over me, analysing my every move, analysing my every smile, my every tear.

"We deserve to have cameras in there."