Vance Pays Tribute to Kirk

Vice President Vance recently expressed his admiration for Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist, who he said “did a good race.” This statement came during a post shared on social media on Wednesday night.

“Now Charlie is in heaven, and I hope he can speak to the big guy for his family, friends, and the country he deeply loved,” Vance remarked. He added, “You ran a good race, my friend. We’ve got it from here.”

According to sources, Vance and his wife, Usha, plan to visit Salt Lake City on Thursday to honor Kirk’s family. Kirk, at just 31 years old, left behind his wife, Erika, and two children.

Additionally, Vance had a scheduled visit to Ground Zero in New York City to commemorate the September 11, 2001 attacks on that same day.

Kirk, known for founding Turning Point USA and being a close ally of President Trump, was tragically shot dead on Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, approximately 40 miles from Salt Lake City. Local authorities indicated that the shooter may have fired from a nearby rooftop.

Vance shared that Kirk had first reached out to him in 2017 after making an appearance on Tucker Carlson’s show. Before announcing his Senate candidacy in 2021, Vance noted that Kirk was “one of the first people I called,” emphasizing his crucial role in Vance’s victory in 2022.

In addition to Vance, Kirk had a close relationship with Donald Trump Jr., and the duo encouraged Trump to consider Vance as his running mate last summer.

“Like me, he was skeptical of Donald Trump back in 2016,” Vance said. “But like me, he eventually recognized President Trump as the only one who could steer American politics away from overwhelming globalism.”

Kirk also played an essential part in the Trump Vance campaign’s grassroots efforts during the 2024 election, where he mobilized voters in Arizona, a state where he had developed strong ties. Originally from Illinois, Kirk had spent parts of his adult life in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Reports indicate that during the transition, Kirk temporarily relocated to Palm Beach, Florida, where he even explored a potential role within the administration and met with prospective Cabinet members.

Vance noted, “A lot of the successes we experienced in this administration can be traced back to Charlie’s remarkable talent for organization and rallying people together. He didn’t just help win in 2024; he supported staff across the government.”