Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is speaking out forcefully against a liberal podcaster who launched a harsh attack on Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose assassination earlier this year shocked the nation.
In a post on X, Fetterman condemned the rhetoric as deeply inappropriate and inhumane.
“It’s gross and dehumanizing to attack a widow with young children after just witnessing his public assassination,” he wrote.
He added that extending compassion should not be a partisan issue:
“It shouldn’t be controversial to put our political views aside and extend the grace for a deeply traumatized family to grieve.”
Fetterman’s remarks came in response to a Fox News Digital headline highlighting comments made by podcaster Jennifer Welch, co-host of the “I’ve Had It” podcast. In a recent episode, Welch labeled Erika Kirk a “grifter” who should be “kicked to the curb,” comparing her to former President Donald Trump and attacking her late husband as “unrepentant, racist, and homophobic.”
The comments drew swift backlash.
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who is currently running for governor, publicly thanked Fetterman for his defense of the grieving widow. Fox News political analyst Gianno Caldwell also expressed full agreement, emphasizing that attacks on a family still processing loss cross a moral line.
Erika Kirk has recently spoken openly about her grief, describing the months since her husband’s killing as “gut-wrenching,” and crediting her faith with helping her endure the tragedy. She has also reflected on her husband’s final book, saying it now feels like “his last words” to her.
Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative figure, had expressed hopes for “massive American flags” and patriotic music in airports — a vision that supporters say reflects the legacy he leaves behind.
As tensions flare across the political spectrum, Fetterman’s comments stand out as one of the few calls for unity and compassion in a moment marked by grief and escalating rhetoric.
