"The Greatest Freudian Slip of All Time?": Erika Kirk Goes Viral After "Grift" vs. "Grit" Gaffe

Erika Kirk, the new CEO of Turning Point USA, set the internet ablaze after making what many are calling the "greatest Freudian slip of all time" during an emotional tribute to her late husband, Charlie Kirk.

The viral moment happened on Saturday, December 20, at the organization's AmericaFest event in Phoenix, Arizona. While praising a student's courage, Kirk appeared to accidentally use the word "grift" instead of "grit." The slip of the tongue immediately sparked a firestorm online, with many speculating it was more intentional than accidental.

At the event, Kirk was presenting the Charlie Kirk Courage Award to Caleb Chilcutt, a student at Utah Valley University. Chilcutt was honored for being by Charlie Kirk's side when he was assassinated on campus earlier this year on September 10.

In videos circulating from the event, Kirk is heard saying, "Despite the devastating loss of Charlie Kirk, my incredible husband… Caleb has persisted with the same grift," before quickly correcting herself. "Excuse me, gift," she said, then corrected again to, "grit." After the gaffe, she placed a hand on her chest, sighed, and told the audience, "It has been a long day."

The reaction was instantaneous. X user Richard Hanania posted a clip of the speech, commenting, "This is the greatest Freudian slip of all time." His post has since garnered over 2.1 million views and more than 58,000 likes. "She said what she said… and meant it!" one user replied. Another added, "That wasn't a slip… You can't lie to your subconscious."

The four-day conference featured other notable moments that drew attention. During her opening remarks, Kirk formally endorsed Vice President JD Vance for a potential 2028 presidential run. On the final day, rapper Nicki Minaj joined Kirk onstage and, while praising Vance, mistakenly referred to him as "the assassin JD Vance." The comment was widely labeled insensitive, given the event was a memorial for Kirk.