Vice President JD Vance shared a deeply personal remembrance of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University. In a lengthy post on X, Vance honored his late friend as a man of “courage,” “faith” and profound loyalty. Kirk, the co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, was a close confidant of Vance’s both personally and politically.
Their friendship stretched from early skepticism about Donald Trump in 2016 to the heights of the 2024 campaign trail. Vance’s candid social media reflection gave a rare glimpse into Kirk’s influence not only on the conservative movement but also on the very formation of the Trump-Vance team. Kirk was notoriously outspoken about his political views, often engaging in debates with college students across the country.
In his tribute, Vance reflected on the loss with religious faith, saying, “I was in a meeting in the West Wing when those group chats started lighting up with people telling Charlie they were praying for him. And that’s how I learned the news that my friend had been shot. God didn’t answer those prayers, and that’s OK. He had other plans. And now that Charlie is in heaven, I’ll ask him to talk to big man directly on behalf of his family, his friends, and the country he loved so dearly.”
Vance credits Kirk with crucial role in forming Trump-Vance partnership
Vance revealed that Kirk played a pivotal role in his political rise, particularly during his Senate campaign and eventual selection as Trump’s running mate. “Charlie was one of the first people I called when I thought about running for senate in early 2021,” Vance wrote. “We talked through everything, from the strategy to the fundraising to the grassroots of the movement he knew so well. He introduced me to some of the people who would run my campaign and also to Donald Trump Jr.”
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
The vice president described Kirk as instrumental in President Trump’s decision-making process when selecting his 2024 running mate. “When I became the VP nominee–something Charlie advocated for both in public and private—Charlie was there for me,” Vance added. “Charlie was constantly calling and texting, checking on our family and offering guidance and prayers.”
Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck during a “Prove Me Wrong” debate event at Utah Valley University in Orem. The shooting occurred around 12:20 PM as Kirk was speaking to a crowd of approximately 3,000 people as part of his “American Comeback Tour.” Recent political tensions have created a particularly volatile environment around conservative figures like Kirk.
Vance also highlighted Kirk’s strong religious faith, saying, “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.” The vice president praised Kirk’s loyalty, describing him as “a true friend. The kind of guy you could say something to and know it would always stay with him.”
