Key Takeaways:
- Vice President JD Vance has been one of the most prominent people to grieve Charlie Kirk following the conservative activist’s assassination.
- Vance and Kirk’s friendship dates back to 2017.
- Now, the vice president has honored his slain friend by flying his casket home and hosting his podcast.
The shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk one week ago has sparked widespread reactions of sadness, particularly from conservative political figures. One of the most notable, and a key part of Kirk’s inner circle, has been Vice President JD Vance.
Broadcasting from his office inside the White House on Monday afternoon, Vance paid tribute to Kirk as he hosted the slain conservative activist’s eponymous podcast, The Charlie Kirk Show.
“The thing is, every single person in this building, we owe something to Charlie,” Vance said. “He was a joyful warrior for our country. He loved America, he devoted himself tirelessly to making our country a better place. He was a critical part of getting Donald Trump elected as president, getting me elected as vice president.”
Vance spoke to a variety of guests with close ties to Kirk, including White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and podcast executive producer Andrew Kolvet. He also offered details of his interactions with Kirk’s widow, Erika Lane Kirk. The day after the 31-year-old was fatally shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University, the vice president and Second Lady Usha Vance escorted Erika as well as Charlie’s casket to Arizona aboard Air Force Two.
That gesture and his turn behind the podcast mic demonstrate the close relationship that Vance and Kirk shared. The vice president even credits Kirk’s endorsement for the rapid success of his short political career. Here’s everything you need to know about their friendship.
They first connected in 2017 after a TV appearance
In a statement posted to social media, Vance revealed his friendship with Kirk began in 2017. It was the year after his best-selling book Hillbilly Elegy had published, and Vance appeared on pundit Tucker Carlson’s show on Fox News “to talk about God knows what.” After the segment, Vance received an encouraging direct message from “a name I barely knew” over Twitter (now X).
“It was Charlie Kirk, and that moment of kindness began a friendship that lasted until today,” Vance wrote on September 10, the day Kirk was killed.
Back then, Vance primarily worked as a venture capitalist, and if he had any political aspirations, he hadn’t shared them publicly. The next year, he did explore running for one of Ohio’s Senate seats against incumbent Sherrod Brown but ultimately declined.
Kirk supported Vance’s political campaigns
Three years later, Vance again considered a Senate run after Ohio’s other senator, Rob Portman, announced his retirement. However, the author and venture capitalist was very unsure of his chances. This was partially because of his criticisms of then-former President Trump, whom he previously called “cultural heroin” and had likened to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
One of the people Vance called for guidance was Kirk. “We talked through everything, from the strategy to the fundraising to the grassroots of the movement he knew so well,” Vance said. He ultimately decided to join the race as a Republican candidate.
Kirk then invited Vance to speak at an event hosted by his political organization Turning Point USA. The activist also introduced the first-time candidate to members of his ensuing campaign as well as Donald Trump Jr. Although Vance initially struggled to gain voters’ confidence—earning as little as 9 percent of support, according to a January 2022 poll—he ultimately outlasted his primary challengers and defeated Democrat Tim Ryan for the seat in the general election later that year.
Over time, the new senator’s perception of former President Trump changed. In light of that, Vance emerged as a potential running mate for Trump’s third presidential campaign in 2024. After his selection, Vance said he experienced guilt over introducing his wife and three kids to increased public attention. Kirk regularly called and texted to check in and offer support.
The vice president offered his plane to carry Kirk’s body
After Trump and Vance were elected, Kirk maintained a visible presence within their administration. The vice president said he and Kirk were part of multiple group chats including “people at the very highest level of our government” and that their conversations ranged from policy initiatives to family occasions.
“We celebrate weddings and babies, bust each other’s chops, and mourn the loss of loved ones. We talk about politics and policy and sports and life,” Vance wrote in his social media statement.
Not surprisingly, Vance had a quick and beneficent response when his friend was killed on September 10. According to CBS News, the vice president immediately canceled a trip to New York City marking the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks so he could fly to Utah to retrieve Kirk’s body. While there, he met with Erika Kirk, as well as Charlie’s mother, father, and sister.
On Thursday, Vance and a group of uniformed service members carried Kirk’s casket as it was loaded onto Air Force Two. The vice president then escorted his friend’s remains to Kirk’s home state of Arizona, where a public memorial service is scheduled for Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
Vance plans to honor Kirk’s commitment to fatherhood
Beyond his political acumen, Vance highlighted Kirk’s relationship with his family during Monday’s podcast. Charlie and Erika had two children, a daughter born in August 2022 and son born in May 2024, whose names they have kept private. The vice president said one of the ways he plans to pay tribute to Kirk in his own life is to be the best father and husband he can.
“He talked about the joy that came from fatherhood, the joy that came from raising a family and being part of their growth and development and all the incredible things that happen when you get to be a husband and father,” Vance said. “And that is the way that I’m gonna honor my friend, is to be the very best at that most important job that I can be.”
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor and is now the News and Culture Editor. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor for a daily newspaper recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, you can find him at the nearest amusement park or movie theater and cheering on his favorite teams.
