Vice President J.D. Vance paid tribute to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk following his assassination at Utah Valley University, recalling the personal and political role Kirk played in shaping his own career, as reported by The Western Journal.
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed while speaking at an outdoor event on the Orem campus as part of his American Comeback Tour.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. pic.twitter.com/lYLEjv40bN
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 10, 2025
In a lengthy post on X, Vance shared how his friendship with Kirk began in 2017 after an appearance on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News program.
“Afterwards, a name I barely knew sent me a DM on Twitter and told me I did a great job. It was Charlie Kirk, and that moment of kindness began a friendship that lasted until today,” Vance wrote.
The Vice President recalled that both he and Kirk were initially skeptical of Donald Trump in 2016 but came to see him as the leader who could shift American politics away from globalism.
“Like me, he came to see President Trump as the only figure capable of moving American politics away from the globalism that had dominated for our entire lives,” Vance said.
By 2021, when Vance began exploring a political career, he sought out Kirk’s advice. Kirk later supported his rise from Senate candidate to Vice President.
“When I became the VP nominee — something Charlie advocated for both in public and private — Charlie was there for me,” Vance wrote.
Beyond politics, Vance said Kirk understood the toll public life took on families. He noted how Kirk frequently reached out with calls and prayers as Vance’s children adjusted to life under constant security.
“Charlie was constantly calling and texting, checking on our family and offering guidance and prayers,” Vance said.
Vance also highlighted Kirk’s ability to blend faith, ideas, and activism.
“Charlie genuinely believed in and loved Jesus Christ. He had a profound faith. We used to argue about Catholicism and Protestantism and who was right about minor doctrinal questions. Because he loved God, he wanted to understand him,” he wrote.
He described Kirk as someone committed to open debate, even with hostile audiences. “He exemplified a foundational virtue of our Republic: the willingness to speak openly and debate ideas,” Vance said.
Kirk’s devotion to his family was also central, according to Vance. “Charlie really loved his family. The president was right. Charlie was so proud of Erika and the two kids. He was so happy to be a father,” he wrote.
Vance added that Kirk’s work extended into staffing and organizing efforts that helped shape the Trump administration after the 2024 election. “So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organize and convene,” he said.
Recalling how he learned of Kirk’s death, Vance said he was in a West Wing meeting when group messages began lighting up. “God didn’t answer those prayers, and that’s OK. He had other plans,” Vance wrote. “You ran a good race, my friend. We’ve got it from here.”
A while ago, probably in 2017, I appeared on Tucker Carlson’s Fox show to talk about God knows what. Afterwards a name I barely knew sent me a DM on twitter and told me I did a great job. It was Charlie Kirk, and that moment of kindness began a friendship that lasted until today.…
— JD Vance (@JDVance) September 11, 2025
