VICE President JD Vance has shared an emotional tribute to his longtime friend Charlie Kirk on the late activist’s daily podcast.
Vance, 41, said he was “filling in for somebody who cannot be filled in for” by hosting The Charlie Kirk Show on Monday in the wake of his assassination.
GettyCharlie Kirk introducing Vice President-elect JD Vance on stage during the Turning Point USA Inaugural-Eve Ball in Washington DC on January 19, 2025[/caption]
AFPVice President JD Vance speaking on The Charlie Kirk Show on Monday afternoon[/caption]
AFPCharlie Kirk addressing the crowd at a campaign rally at JD Vance in Glendale, Arizona, on July 31, 2024[/caption]
Vance broadcast live from the White House on September 15 in the place of Kirk, 31, who was shot and killed during a student event at Utah Valley University on September 10.
Monday’s episode of the radio and podcast show is the first one held since Kirk’s death.
Vance brought on guests, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The vice president opened the show with an emotional tribute, becoming teary and choking up as he spoke about Kirk leaving behind his wife, Erika, and their two young children.
He praised the conservative activist as the “smartest political operative I’ve ever met,” and credited him with helping to get President Donald Trump elected both times.
Kirk and Vance were close friends for many years, with Kirk backing Vance’s Senate campaign in 2021.
The conservative influencer also introduced Vance to Donald Trump Jr., the vice president shared in his tribute to Kirk online.
After Kirk was shot and killed, Vance escorted his casket and family to his hometown in Arizona aboard Air Force Two.
On the radio show, the vice president then called for justice to be served for Kirk’s alleged assassin, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who was taken into custody on Thursday.
‘LAST MESSAGE’ TO STEPHEN MILLER
Vance shared his plans to speak about “how to dismantle left-wing extremism” on the show, but first, he invited Miller to join him at the microphone.
Miller somberly spoke about how Kirk, a pro-gun activist, had been adamantly against political violence before his death.
“The last message Charlie sent me — I think it was just the day before we lost him — was that we need an organized strategy to go after the left-wing organizations that are promoting violence in this country,” Miller told Vance.
“With God as my witness, we are going to use every resource we have at the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, and throughout this government, to identify, disrupt, dismantle, and destroy these networks,” Miller said.
He added, “We will do it in Charlie’s name.”
KAROLINE LEAVITT’S TRIBUTE
After Miller, Leavitt joined Vance and spoke about how Kirk inspired her as she went through college.
“I’m a Gen Z conservative. My political education was not just through the rise of President Trump but also through the rise of Charlie Kirk,” Leavitt said.
“Just watching Charlie from a distance was so inspiring to me as a young conservative woman.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaking on The Charlie Kirk Show on MondayRumble/Charlie Kirk Show
GettyVance and Second Lady Usha Vance leading Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, off Air Force Two in Phoenix, Arizona, on September 11[/caption]
She then said Kirk inspired her faith, as well as her take-charge attitude in the White House briefing room.
“Picking a fight, especially when you know you have the facts and the truth on your side, but doing it with a smile,” Leavitt said.
After Leavitt, podcast star Tucker Carlson joined the show, then US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took the microphone.
He praised Kirk’s commitment to free speech.
Charlie Kirk’s rise to hero of the youth MAGA movement
CHARLIE Kirk transformed conservative youth activism from a marginal movement into a powerful force before his assassination on a college campus at 31.
Kirk was an American conservative political activist, author, and media personality who rose to prominence as the co-founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA).
He launched the organization in 2012 when he was just 18 years old, with the goal of promoting conservative principles to high school and college students and became a significant figure in American politics by building a massive grassroots network, framing himself as a “culture warrior.”
The rise of Turning Point USA
Turning Point USA’s mission was to counter what Kirk and his allies saw as liberal dominance on American college campuses.
It quickly grew to prominence through his use of provocative activism and viral social media campaigns.
They created watchlists of professors pushing leftist propaganda and organized events to debate students on controversial topics.
The strategy helped them gain a significant following and financial backing from wealthy conservative donors.
Kirk’s ability to connect with a new generation of conservatives was one of his most notable impacts.
He cultivated a style of political engagement that was heavily reliant on social media, podcasts, and confrontational public appearances.
His organization’s events, such as the annual Student Action Summit, drew thousands of young attendees and featured prominent conservative speakers, creating a new kind of political ecosystem for young people who felt alienated from traditional conservative groups.
A key ally of Donald Trump
Kirk also became a staunch supporter and ally of President Donald Trump.
He was the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention and served as an aide to Donald Trump Jr. during the presidential campaign.
This relationship solidified his position within the Republican Party’s “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) wing, and his organization became an integral part of Trump’s political apparatus.
Through his popular podcast, “The Charlie Kirk Show,” and his frequent appearances on conservative media, Kirk was a powerful voice in the pro-Trump movement.
He often framed political issues as a “spiritual battle” between good and evil and championed a pugnacious, populist form of conservatism.
His influence was so significant that after Trump’s 2024 victory, Kirk was credited with helping to mobilize younger voters for the campaign.
Influence on culture and social issues
Beyond traditional politics, Kirk’s influence extended deeply into social and cultural issues.
He was a vocal opponent of “woke” ideology, particularly in education and media.
He promoted traditional values, often encouraging young women to prioritize becoming homemakers and mothers over professional careers.
Kirk also openly criticized programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
He was also a major proponent of Christian nationalism, arguing that there is no true separation of church and state in the United States.
The Turning Point Empire
Kirk’s activism led to the expansion of the Turning Point brand into a larger political and media empire.
He launched Turning Point Action, a political advocacy group focused on voter mobilization, and Turning Point Faith, aimed at engaging evangelical Christian communities in conservative politics.
These affiliated organizations allowed him to broaden his reach and influence beyond college campuses, into a more mainstream political force.
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was known for being outspoken about his beliefs and holding public debates, typically with college students.
He was debating a college student about mass shooters when he was shot with a single bullet.
The special episode of The Charlie Kirk Show can be watched on Rumble or Kirk’s website, as well as streamed on podcast platforms.
After Kirk’s assassination, Trump announced he would posthumously award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Turning Point USA will hold a public memorial for Kirk on September 21 in Glendale, Arizona.
APKirk, who was killed at age 31 on September 10[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
