'Charlie could have been President': JD Vance mourns Kirk, blames ‘culture of hatred’

Vance fondly recalled how Kirk had urged President Trump to select him as running mate.

US Vice President JD Vance, on Monday, used his guest-hosting appearance on The Charlie Kirk Show to deliver a moving emotional tribute to the slain conservative activist, crediting him for his own political rise and vowing to combat what he called the culture of “left-wing extremism” that, he argued, contributed to Kirk’s killing.

“I owe so much to Charlie,” Vance said at the opening of the program, fondly recalling how Kirk had urged US President Donald Trump to pick him as running mate.

“Charlie could have been President. He was gunned down by an assassin’s bullet, and we will not rest until those responsible for this culture of hatred are held accountable," Vance noted in his deeply personal tribute.

The vice president, describing himself as “filling in for somebody who cannot be filled in for,” hosted the two-hour podcast from his ceremonial office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next to the White House. The broadcast was also streamed in the White House press briefing room and featured several administration officials who knew the 31-year-old activist.

Vance, during the podcast, noted that Kirk’s death must be seen in the broader context of political violence.

“I believe it is part of the reason why Charlie was killed by an assassin’s bullet. We’re going to talk about how to dismantle that and how to bring real unity, real unity that can only come when we tell the truth,” he remarked.

Also calling for national unity, Vance admitted the difficulty of reconciliation. “I’m desperate for our country to be united in condemnation of the actions and the ideas that killed my friend,” he said. “I want it so badly that I will tell you a difficult truth. We can only have it with people who acknowledge that political violence is unacceptable".

"Finding common ground with people who celebrated the assassination of my friend is impossible," he further added.

The vice president also recounted Kirk’s pivotal role in his political journey. He revealed that their friendship began in 2017 after a brief message of encouragement from Kirk. Over the years, Kirk introduced him to donors, campaign strategists, and even Donald Trump Jr., helping him build momentum for his 2022 Senate run. “If it weren’t for Charlie Kirk, I would not be the vice president of the United States … it’s one of the reasons why I feel so indebted to him,” Vance said.

He added, “So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organize and convene. He didn’t just help us win in 2024; he helped us staff the entire government.”

Vance also grew emotional when speaking of Kirk’s widow, Erika. He recalled her telling him that Charlie had “never raised his voice to her and was never cross or mean-spirited.” Reflecting on that, the vice president admitted, “I took from that moment that I needed to be a better husband and I needed to be a better father. That is the way I’m going to honour my friend.”

Several senior administration officials also joined Monday’s broadcast to honour Kirk, including White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.

For Vance, who described Kirk as the “youth whisperer of the American Right,” the loss was deeply personal. “He made Trumpism aspirational for a new generation,” Vance said. “That moment of kindness began a friendship that lasted until today.”

Vance personally accompanied Kirk’s body back from Utah to Arizona aboard Air Force Two last week, together with his wife, Usha, and Erika Kirk. He skipped the September 11 memorial events in New York to do so.

Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on September 10 while hosting an event at Utah Valley University. The alleged gunman, Tyler Robinson, was taken into custody by the FBI the following day.

President Trump, speaking from the Oval Office shortly after the assassination, also delivered an unusually emotional tribute. Calling Kirk “Great” and “Legendary,” Trump described him as central to his political orbit and credited him with energizing young voters. “We lost a great person,” Trump said on Sunday. “We’re going to Arizona, taking some people with us, on Air Force One.”