According to a reliable source, Vice President JD Vance visited Salt Lake City on Thursday to honor the family of Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed just a day earlier.
Second Lady Ushavance accompanied him.
Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and key figure in the Magazine Movement, was shot in the head at Utah Valley University during an event known as the “America Comeback Tour” on Wednesday, where he was addressing a large crowd.
Initially, Vance had planned to be in New York City for the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Last year, he was at Ground Zero alongside President Trump, in close proximity to former President Biden and Vice President Harris.
On Thursday morning, Trump plans to commemorate September 11 at the Pentagon, followed by attending a New York Yankees game later that evening.
In an emotional post shared on the social platform x on Wednesday night, Vance reflected on his relationship with Kirk. He recounted how they first connected in 2017 after Kirk reached out following a Fox News appearance regarding Vance’s Senate campaign in Ohio. Vance noted that Kirk had supported him as Trump’s potential running mate.
“He was more than just a thinker; he was an activist, turning big ideas into significant events filled with thousands of supporters,” Vance expressed. “After every event, he would give me a big hug, tell me he was praying for me, and ask how he could help.”
Vance mentioned that he had spoken to Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday, and the president confirmed their strong friendship.
“Charlie Kirk was a true friend. The kind of person you could trust to share your thoughts with, knowing he’d always be there,” Vance said. “We often had group chats, celebrating life events, sharing laughs, discussing politics, and just life in general.”
In response to Kirk’s tragic death, Trump called him a “martyr for truth and freedom.”
As of Thursday morning, authorities were still searching for the shooter.
