Erika and Vance raised eyebrows after they hugged onstage at a Turning Level USA occasion in October 2025. Viewers accused the pair of being “sensitive,” as he put his palms round her waist whereas she cupped the again of his head.
On the time, the mom-of-two additionally declared she sees similarities between her late husband and Vance.
“When our staff requested my pricey buddy, Vice President JD Vance, to talk right this moment, I actually prayed on it as a result of, clearly, it is a very emotional day,” she mentioned on the time. “However I might simply hear Charlie in my coronary heart. I might simply hear him say, ‘Go reclaim that territory, babe.’ The battle’s already received. God’s love conquers. And that is why I am right here right this moment. Nobody will ever exchange my husband — however I do see some similarities in JD.”
Following the backlash, Erika defended the viral intimate second and insisted her love language is “contact.”
“So I provides you with a play-by-play: They only performed the emotional video. I am strolling over, [Vance] is strolling over. I am beginning to cry. He says, ‘I am so pleased with you.’ And I say, ‘God bless you,’ and I contact the again of his head. Anybody whom I’ve hugged, that I’ve touched the again of your head once I hug you, I at all times say, ‘God bless you,'” she detailed at a Megyn Kelly Dwell occasion in November 2025.
“They have been performing such as you touched the again of his a–!” Megyn Kelly quipped, to which she responded, “I really feel like I would not get as a lot hate if I did that!”